





r 


I 



r 


I » 



3 

rmipghtF , 


COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 









; > 






> ^- 4 ^ « * ■ 




2 ^ 


■»- . W' . wi • * 







■ -w 


h 4 


\ % 


■\ 


' ,-. V 



Cc^*v ■'•!'*:! . «■ >: . 

-.•/>:-r.*.' .:-J*'.ht.. 

» 


:i * : 




V •■ 


I- ' 

>? . ?}■ ,'{M, 

■’' ■ *r;:fvW |»^S 

V' v. ■ -; r ■i4»uV.'¥';v.' 

' ■ ■’ • • f"* JV-. I'i'i 

• .-rVsM 

1 - • . 1*3 


%* • 


i.’ ' 


■ ► 


. r-' • 


\. 




’■ '• 4 . . '▼ 


Y •< 



„.l •. '-■ \ 'iS ,' ■ 

. 1.1 . 


ki.a 1 




»,*' 


•> . 


■ '•/ ■ -■- .n 

• ■ ; .:•, . '.M 'V 

' * 1 * 

• pr . 


iv. I 


• I .•- . 


^ ■• • ■ • V • , J ■ ■ 

•. *7 '•'. 'iSI 


/. 



/ r 




r** 4 





‘ ''\ 


* ' *.• 




. f 




li.- 


iS 


: 




■ 



i'. 


r l^ 3 


k . • 





■^'m 


. * *1 


.1 » 


•.>. ; • • ‘ .".L^ ■*. '.'Tui'. .i-fst-. .f¥u, 







> ■• 


• liin 



I l'- 





i 


THE BOGGS BOYS 



OR 



Corralling the Kids of Kiddville. 



/ 


A. W. CONNER. 



lUVINGTON, INDIANA. 

THK BOYS’ FRIEND LIBRARY, 

L . 




16!i3. 


. . < ' 



31643 

DKDICATION. 


Having passed through the “stress period” of life — not with- 
out irreparable losses; having, ’midst mirth and tears, learned 
the power of a Princely Boyhood, 

I Dedicate This Little Book 

TO 

THE MEN OF AMERICA, 

Who, armed out of the experience of the past, should sally 
forth as “Twentieth Centmy Knights” and defend imperiled 
boyhood of to-day. For in “Columbia’s land” 

“EVERY BOY IS A PRINCE.’’ 


Copyright, 1899. A. W. Conner. 




MAY i 8 1899 

of 


AUTHOR. 


Press of the Reporter Publlshinj? Co., Indianapolis 


THE BOGGS BOYS, 

OR 

CORRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 

CHAPTER I. 

CALVIN ATWOOD'S CALL. 

Y CALL to the Kiddville Church was pe- 
culiar in one respect — T was not asked to 
preach a trial sermon. After some cor- 
respondence 1 wan surprised to receive the 
following telegram: 

^^Kiddville, Ind., March 1, 18. . 
Calvin Atwood: 

We extend unanimous call. - Salary 
eight hundred dollars. Begin April first. 

Timothy Bentley, Clerk.^^ 

1 was then a young man of twenty-three years; the happy 
possessor of a wife and a black-eyed baby girl of eighteen 
months. T had been dividing my time between preaching and 
teaching. My household possessions were not numerous. My 
library was largely composed of text-books. My bank ac- 



4 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OR 


count was very small, much smaller than my stock of ser- 
mons, and that was scarcely worth naming, so I felt that 
moving from Illinois to Indiana would be a very light task. 
With an offer of eight hundred dollars as the salary I felt 
that there was no doubt but that it was the will of the Lord 
that I should accept this call. The next day I sent the 
following message: 

ville^ 111., March 2, 18. . 

Timothy Bentley, Kiddville, Ind.: 

Call accepted. Will arrive with family March twenty- 
seventh. Calvin Atwood.^^ 

No sooner had I sent this message than I began to have 
many misgivings as to the wisdom of my decision. Person- 
ally I knew nothing of the church, never having seen a single 
member of it. I had learned that their former pastor was 
a highly educated gentleman of long experience. I was 
young and inexperienced, and worse than all this, I was far 
from being prepossessing in personal appearance. To m}^ 
great anno 3 ^ance, I could not support a moustache, and cler- 
ical clothes made me the laughing stock of strangers. In 
their eyes I was only a boy. My wife, however, dispelled all 
my fears, and assured me that I would soon win the hearts 
of the boys of the community, and that that would make me 
master of the situation. 

The deacon in one of his letters had stated that the church 
felt the need of a young pastor who could win and hold the 
boys and the young men. It was this prospect that had 
turned my heart to Kiddville. 


OOBBALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. k 

At 9 o^clock on the morning of March 27 wife, baby Grace 
and I got off the train at the town of Eacketsburgh, the 
nearest railway station to Kiddville. Half an hour later, in 
a public hack, in company with a half dozen passengers, we 
were on our way to Kiddville, which was twelve miles dis- 
tant. The country was beautiful and the ride not unpleas- 
ant. The driver and passengers engaged in lively gossip of 
no interest whatever to wife and me, until a red- whiskered 
passenger said: 

^^Say, 01, I thought the new preacher was comin^ to-day!'^ 

^^Deacon Bentley was lookin’ for him,” said the driver. “I 
was at both trains, but no preacher got off that I saw.” My 
wife gave me a nudge with her elbow that almost took my 
breath. ^T)eacon^s folks will be fearfully put out, the3^re 
lookin' for him for dinner.” 

‘^T've been lookin' for them to get fooled, anyhow,” said, 
an old lady who sat by the red-whiskered man. ^^This hirein’ 
a preacher 'thout seein' or bearin' him's like buyin' a pig in 
a poke. I was 'ginst it.” 

^^dh! I don't know about that,” said a business-looking 
gentleman, who appeared to be a stranger to the other pas- 
s<‘ngers. should think it would be the best way to em- 
ploy a pastor, especially if you were well informed as to his 
character and w^ork.” 

''Be you the new preacher?” asked the old lady, somewhat 
bewildered. "Indeed I am not,” said the gentleman, smiling. 

"Thought not,” said the red-whiskered man. "I heard he 


THE BOGGS BOYS. OB 


e 

is a young man. Hirin^ a youngster for Kiddville^s desper- 
ate risky,^^ 

heerd ^em say/^ put in another passenger, “^^that he^s a 
power on gettin^ hold of boys and young men; if he is, Fm 
glad he^s comin^ if he can^t preach a hit/^ 

^^He^ll have to be a fifty hoss-power if he gits hold of the 
Boggs boys,^^ said red whiskers. 

must get them before he can do any good for the 
oihers,^^ interposed a young gentleman. 

^‘^ThaFs a gospel truth said the driver. ^Tll bet the new 
pieacheFs business. His goods have come and are in the 
parsonage. Bob Junkins hauled them out last Saturday.'^ 

By 12 o^clock we reached the north edge of Kiddville. 
Here the red- whiskered man left us. Further down the 
street we stopped in front of a neat residence, and the driver, 
addressing a gentleman standing at the gate, said: ^^^ni 
sorry to disappoint you. Deacon, but there didn’t nobody git 
off of the train that looked like he could preach any more 
than I can — ” 

^^Excuse me,” I interrupted, ^T)ut is hot this Brother 
Timothy Bently? My name is Calvin Atwood.” 

The driver gave a gasp, and the passengers opened their 
eyes in amazement. 

Jerusalem!” exclaimed the driver. was wonderin’ all 
the way out who you folks was. Just as usual, Fve made a 
fool of myself by tryin’ to say somethin’ smart.” 

^^Most of folks do. that,” said the deacon. 

The deacon and his family were very kind to us. By 


CORRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLK. 


7 


Friday noon we were very comfortably located in the par- 
sonage. The next day we spent in resting, preparatory to the 
introduction to our work. 

Lord^s day dawned bright and beautiful. As the hour for 
meeting drew near people from the country began to arrive. 
The parsonage and church were located on the east side of 
the village. The parsonage was on the north side of the 
street, and the church building stood on the south side, facing 
the parsonage. The church stood in an open space, and 
hitching racks were on all sides. Back of the church was 
a burying ground. The church lot and cemetery had once 
been a part of the beautiful and fertile farm laying to the 
south and east. The adjoining field was a blue grass pasture. 
This farm, I learned, belonged to Mr. Joseph Boggs, who had 
never become reconciled to the church occupying a part of 
his farm. 

Before I crossed over to the church, the hitching racks 
were well filled and many friends were greeting each other 
in the church yard. I felt highly complimented over the 
prospect of a large audience. When I passed into the build- 
ing I was* greatly jfieased. The ladies and gentlemen were 
all well dressed, and gave evidence of being a very social, 
kind-hearted and intelligent people. There was one thing 
that attracted my attention, and that was the absence of boys 
and young men. In the short time I had been in the town 
J had noticed a large number of boys from thirteen to 
eighteen years of age. Now, facing this audience, I could 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OR 


v)!)]}' count five boys of that age, and not a larger number of 
young men, ranging from eighteen to twenty-two years. 

I chose as the text of my introductory sermon those won- 
derful words of Paul: determined not to know anything 

among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.’^ My 
auditors proved to be excellent listeners. As I w^as describ- 
ing the superiority of this knowledge over all other an im- 
pressive silence fell upon the assembly. This silence became 
akin to awe, as I spoke of the duty of seniors to impart this 
knowledge to the young and rising generation. Suddenly 
there came a low, rumbling sound, like distant thunder. It 
drew nearer, and the house appeared to tremble as if the 
earth was quaking. Faces gave expression of fear. 1 looked 
to the pasture through the window at my right and saw a 
herd of cattle and horses stampeding towards the church, 
l^he noise became more alarming; horses at the racks became 
frightened, and a number of men who sat near the open 
window's sprang out, w’^hich thus added to the excitement '.»f 
the audience. Then ^midst the lowing of cattle and snorting 
of horses there came a fearful crash, caused by breaking 
limbers, wdiich was followed by a heavy stroke against the 
building. Then I detected screams, as if some one was in 
most intense pain. Within the building women were scream- 
ing, without the bellowing of cattle and the shouting of men 
were increasing. Seeing that m}^ efforts to quiet the peop'e 
were useless, I rushed out of the house. At the rear of the 
church, where the cemetery fence joined the pasture fence, 
w^as a crowd of excited men, while in the pasture was a herd 




CORRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


cattle equally excited. I found it, at first, impossible to / 
enter the crowd or to discover the cause of the disturbance. " 
What is the trouble?^' I asked Deacon Bently, who hap- 
. pened to be at my side. 

''I don't know what the trouble is/' he said, ''but I bet the 
Boggs boys are at the bottom of it." 



10 


THE BOGOS BOYS, OR 


CHAPTER II. 


A MYSTERIOUS ACCIDENT. 

N THE midst of the noise and excitement 
I was startled by a voice calling ont, ^^Help, 
men! Release that boy!^^ It was the voice 
of Mrs. Atwood. How she got into that 
crowd, I could not imagine. I was seized 
with fear, and instantly forced my way to 
her. 

There upon the ground w'ere two calves entangled in their 
yoke and in the wreck of the fence and hitch rack They were 
rolling their eyes and bawling pitiously. Under the wreck 
of an old sled and some hoards, was a boy struggling for 
liberty. My wife, kneeling, held the head of another boy 
whose face was deathly pale, whose hands and feet were 
bound with cords, and above his right eye was a gastly 
wound, from which the blood flowed rapidly. My wife was 
trying to stay this flow of blood. Her hands and dress were 
blood stained. 

^^Wife!^^ I exclaimed, excitedly, ^^how came you here?^^ 

^This is no time to ask questions, Calvin, Call a phy- 
sician.^^ 

^^Where is baby Grace I asked, giving no heed to her 
command. 



CORRAXLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


11 


‘^You selfish creature she said reprovingly, ‘^^help me get 
this boy into the parsonage/^ 

Two young men took the hoy up, and my wife arose, and, 
facing the crowd, said, ‘'"Stand back, men, and let us pass to 
the parsonage/^ By this time the other boy extricated him- 
self from the tangle and disappeared. I now observed that 
not less than forty or fifty boys had forced themselves into 
this crowd. Dr. Quick seized me by the arm and said: 

Parson, you had better follow your wife and prevent the 
people entering your gate. They will jam the house so full 
you can’t breathe.” 

I rushed forward, the doctor following me. I reached the 
gate just as wife and her assistants were entering \vith tlie 
unconscious boy. 

""Kind friends,” I said, closing the gate as the doctor en- 
tered, ""the injured boy is now in the hands of his physician 
and friends, and you had all better pass away from the house, 
lest the noise and excitement harm him.” 

""Whose boy is he?” asked a half dozen at once. 

""I do not know,” I replied. 

""It’s Shortie Boggs,” said one man. 

""Ko its not,” said another crossly. ""I didn’t see him, but 
you’ll never see a Boggs bov get the sense knocked out of 
’im.” 

""Got none to knock out,” said a man seeking to enter the 
gate. ""Parson, you ^\ill find out after a while the kind of a 
place you’ve gotten into. There is not a meaner set of young- 
sters in all creation than you’ll find in Kiddville.” 


12 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OR 


Just then the door opened^ and the doctor addressing an 
elderly man standing near the gate, said: ^^Brother Sum- 
mers, I have bad news for you. It is George we have in 
here. I fear he is fatally injured.^^ 

^^George! Not my hoy!^^ exclaimed Mr. Summers. He 
turned pale and staggered as though he would fall. I took 
hold of him and assisted him in entering the room, where 
the doctor said in a comforting way: 

‘^^Brother Summers, you must he heroic. llow badly your 
hoy is hurt I cannot tell. I want that you and the preacher 
shall see him just as he was found and carried in. You are 
an old man, and have seen too much of the troubles of life 
to he overcome by this accident.^^ 

^^George is my only child, the son of my old age.^^ 

know,^^ said the doctor kindly. ^‘The greater need of 
Christian fortitude. His mother has not seen him yet."^"* 
While the doctor was talking, the father became more quiet 
and self-possessed. Then the doctor led him into another 
room, where the boy was lying on a bed. My wife was un- 
tying the cord about his hands, and the young men were 
loosening the cords binding the hoy^s feet. 

The father came near the boy, bent his trembling form 
over him, placed his gray bearded face against that of the 
unconscious boy and sobbed, ^^Oh! my boy, my prince! Gladly 
woidd I have died for you!^^ 

^^How that father loved his boy!^^ said my wife to one of 
the young men standing by. 

'^Oh, yes!^^ replied the young man heartlessly. ^^They all 


CORRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


13 


love them when they are sick or get the life knocked out of 
them all at once. I would like to see some of this love shown 
to the live and healthy boy. Oh. that^s straight goods, Mr. 
Preacher/^ said the young man, looking me in the face. 
know what Pm talking about. Two years ago, when my team 
ran away with a reaper and nearly killed me, my father took 
on fearfully over me, and as long as they thought I was going 
to die every man in the town was wanting to do something 
for me. But when I got well father blamed me for letting 
the horses get away, and the people lied about me. They 
said I w^as drunk, and Deacon Bentley caught on to this report 
and wanted to turn me out of church. Maybe they did for 
all I know, I have never been back since.^^ 

^^There now, Frank, you are saying too much,^^ said the 
other young man. ^^You know Father Summers loves boys. 
He always took your part, and kept them from turning you 
’ out of church. 

^^Oh! yes, that is so,^^ said the first speaker. donT doubt 
but he loves George. He is the only man in this county that 
ought to have a boy.^^ 

^^Oh, doctor!^\said the father imploringly, ^^save my boy!’^ 
H will if I can. How, Father Summers, let me insist 
upon your becoming more calm and self-possessed. It is 
very important that George shall not be excited when he 
returns to consciousness. Do you feel strong enough to in- 
form your wife of this accident? It would be better for the 
boy if she could see him before he gains a knowledge of his 
condition. Besides, I think it best to take George home now. 


14 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OR 


Y oil go to your home and prepare your wife for our coming, 
and 1 will see that George is gotten home in the best possibh? 
manner.'^ 

The old man departed for home, attended by Deacon 
Bently, who, ivith his wife, had come into the parsonage, 
bringing baby Grace with them. 

There was much talk during the preparation for moving 
the boy. My wife had provided that her assistants and 
Brother Bentley should return to the parsonage for dinner. 
The people were saying all manner of things about the cause 
ol* the accident. 

An hour later the two young men returned with Deacon 
Bentley; and I noticc^d a very marked air of unfriendliness 
between the young men and the church official. It was only 
the persuasion of Mrs. Bentley and my wife that secured the 
presence of the young men at dinner. Of course, there was 
only one topic of conversation. 

‘^‘Brother Atwood,*'’ said the deacon, ''this has been an ex- 
citing introduction for you. You can now have some idea 
of what a dreadful class of boys and young meu ive have n 
this community. It is just as I wrote 3^11. Something must 
be done, or they will all go to the devil. The best we can do 
will not reach some of the older ones. Their ease is hope- 
less,^'’ and he cast a suggestive glance from his cold gray eyes 
at one of the young men. That glance was fully understood 
by the young man, for he said sharply: 

"The men who are church members are as much to blame 
io]‘ the condition of things as the boys.'’^ 

"I believe you are about right,^^ said Mrs. Bentley. 


C50BRALLING THE KIDS OP KIDDVILLE. 


15 


This remark drew from the deacon a facial expression of 
a gathering storm, and I, thinking to prevent an outburst of 
temper, said: ‘^^Wife, there is one thing I would like for yon 
to explain. How did you manage to get to the hoys so soon?” 

^^That is easily explained,” she said. was sitting near 
a window, and while you were speaking Grace became rest- 
less. I thought to quiet her by showing her things outside. 
When I looked towards the Boggs home I saw a number of 
boys running around the barn. Then suddenly two calves 
hitched to a sled came running from behind the barn, dashed 
through a gate and into the field. On the sled were two boys, 
and one appeared to be working with the other. It was but 
a moment till all the cattle and horses in the field stampeded. 
I saw they would run into the fence, so I gave baby Grace to 
Sister Bentley, and I stepped out of the door about the time 
the nien began to jump out of the window. I reached the 
boys just in time to ^ee George^s head strike the hitch rack 
post. The other boy was trying to save George. How did 
G eorge come to be tied, do you suppose ?” 

‘^^That is to be accounted for as is all the rest of the mean- 
ness of this community. The Boggs boys are at the bottom 
of the whole thing,” growled the deacon. 

^Tt is easy enough to accuse them,” said the young man, 
who appeared to have the greatest dislike for the deacon. 

^‘But there are worse boys than the Boggs boys, and some 
of them are sons of church officers. I have seen Paul up to 
tricks the Boggs boys would not stoop to.” 

Again the storm clouds gathered in the deacon^s face. Paul 
was the deacon^s fifteen-year-old son. suppose,” I said, in- 


16 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OR 


terrup ting. the speaker, ^^that the other hoy could explain this 
whole mystery. Do any of you know w^ho he was?^^ 

thought/^ said one of the young men, ^^that it was Bill 
Featherweight. I w'as busy helping Mrs. Atwood, and did not 
get a good look at him.^^ 

^^ThaFs who he was,^^ said the other young man, ^^and you 
will have a hard time getting the- truth out of him if tlie 
Boggs boj^s get to see him before any one else does, especially 
if they had anything to do with this accident.^^ 

^^Brother Atwood,^^ said a messenger, ^^they want you down 
.at Mr. Summerses. They think George is dying.^^ 



OORBAIXING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLB. 


17 


OH APTEH III 


CALLED TO BE A COWBOY. 



EA^ANG baby Grace and the parsonafre 
in the care of Deacon Bentle}^, Mrs. At- 
wood and I, without delay, went to the 
house of Brother Summers. A more ex- 
citing scene I had never witnessed. The 
neighbors were running in and out of the 
liouse to such an extent that the doctor was 


angry. As I came near him a woman rushed up to him and 
said: 

‘^Tyan't you save him, doctor 

''Save him!'^ said the doctor, "the Almighty could not save 
him with such a mob as this around. What can I do witii 
a lot of crazy women running all over me?’^ Then turning 
io me with a frown, he asked: "Did your wife come?’^ 

"She did, but I will see that she leaves at once.^' 

"Xo!^^ he said gruffly, "I doiiT want her to leave. I sent 
for her instead of you.^^ 

''A feeling of pride for my wife, accompanied with a deep 
sense of my own inferiority, swept over me. I must have 
sliown the same in my face, for the doctor gave me a sharp 
glance out of his Jet black eyes as he said: "We need skill- 
ful nursing here instead of loud praying.” Then, addressing 
mv wife, who at that moment had pressed her way to us, he 






18 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OR 


said: ‘‘Mrs. Atwood, I wish you to remain, but I am going to 
put the rest of these people out of the house.^^ 

Then, lifting his voice so all could hear, he said: 

^‘People, if you donT get quiet you will kill this old man 
and his wife as well as their boy. I want every one of you to 
leave this house at once. If you are needed you will be sent 
for. Parson, take these people into the woods and hold a 
prayer meeting with them. The farther away the better 
The people left the house, some of them very angry. To 
tell the truth, I felt that the doctor had done me a personal 
injury. But, under the circumstances, there was nothing for 
me to do but to accompany the people. I knew I was not 
wanted or I should have been asked to remain. Besides, I 
was a stranger, and such treatment was likely to depreciate my 
official standing before the people. I was very sure I had 
made a poor impression upon the leading physician of the 
town. He evidently looked upon me as only a boy. Just as 
I had expected, my personal appearance had given the doctor 
license to treat me as a child — in one w^ord, to drive me away 
from a house into which I supposed I had been called for the 
purpose of giving spiritual advice and comfort. On the street 
tJieir inquiring gaze added to my confusion, especially when J 
overheard one of them remark, ^^Old Doc fired the young 
preacher along with the rest of them.^^ 

There was only one comforting thing about the whole af- 
fair — Mrs. Atwood was occupying a position where she was 
likely to become the mistress of the situation. She had won 
the confidence and respect of the doctor. This, however, was 
no surprise to me. I knew she never failed to be equal to any 


COBRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


19 


and every emergency. This I was fully prepared for; but I 
v/as not prepared for the indifferent, matter-of-fact way in 
v.’hich she had seen me pushed aside and herself called ini > 
a most important service. What I dreaded, above everything 
else in life, was that people should fall into the habit of speak- 
ing of Mrs. Calvin Atwood and her husband, instead of Rev. 
■Atwood and wife. I had met ,a few such cases in life, and 
to me they were most pitiable. 

The more I thought on this point the more I was annoyed. 
My wife could easily have spoken to the doctor and requested 
that I should be retained in the house. In this case he could 
Lave done nothing else but keep me, and I should have ap- 
peared useful instead of useless in the eyes of the people. 
^1y mind continued to run along this line till, seeking some 
source of comfort, there came suddenly the thought, ^^At the 
funeral I can regain my lost position.^’ 

"‘What!^^ I said, ^'has it come to this!^" For I had a habit 
of speaking t-o myself when deep in thought. ^^Calvin At- 
wood! Think where you are! Have you come to a point 
where you are jealous of your wife^s usefulness? Are yon 
wanting a boy to die, that at his funeral you may show your 
oi-atorical powers I stopped and looked about, lest some 
^one had heard me speak. 

■ A feTV steps more and I was standing at the parsonage gate. 
Deacon Bentley and his wife took my description of Dv. 
QuickCs behavior very coolly. They were of the opinion that 
people had taken no offense at his words. Baby Grace being 
asleep, the deacon and his wife soon left. 

AWien alone I tried to make a thorough survey of the day’s 
experience. I doubted if any preacher had ever had such ao 


20 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OB 


introduction to his charge. The question that troubled me 
most was ^‘^How shall I get hold of those Boggs boys?^^ I re- 
Yiewed my boyhood days^ but could not call to mind any 
time when we had ever bound one of our fellows hand and 
foot. I wondered if the Boggs boys had been playing Abram 
and Isaac, and had bound George preparatory to offering him 
on the altar. Tins I thought could not be, for the Bible 
story had never, to my knowledge, led to such play. As I 
stated before, I was young, and had never connected myseJf 
with any secret fraternities, or I would not so readily have 
rejected the thought that the story of sacrificing Isaac had 
led to the binding of George Summers. 

I was sure that the bo3^s had a leader, or had been reading 
some very unwholesome literature; perhaps both influences 
were working on them. In either case, the problem was com- 
plex; and calling to mind the remark of one of the young men 
to Deacon Bentley, I was not disposed to think the Boggs 
boys beyond redemption. I had heard and seen enough al- 
ready to reach the conclusion that the fathers of Kiddville 
were not very confiding and companionable with their boys. 
This last thought drew^ my heart to the boys. I trembled 
when I thought what I probably would have been had I not 
had a most companionable father. Oh, how I wished I could 
see him then! How greatly I needed his wise counsel! 

Kneeling by the side of the bed on w^hich baby Grace was 
sleeping, I prayed for wisdom, and solemnly pledged the 
Heavenly Father to do all in my power to lead the boys an I 
young men of Kiddville into His Kingdom. My devotions 
were interrupted by baby Grace shouting, ^‘•'Gan-Pa! Gan-Pa!” 
Her face was covered with smiles, and her eyes fairly sparkled 


COiJRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


21 


s as she scrambled to get off the bed. I turned and looked 
j ])ehind and there was my father standing in the open 

* door. 

I was surprised beyond measure. After I had calmed my- 
self, however, I could see that I had no occasion for surprise; 
i for I had never stood in need of my father^s companionship 
and counsel that he had not come to the rescue. I told him 
of my experiences and of the solemn pledge. He gave the 
closest attention until I had finished, and then made this 
] characteristic speech: 

^^Well, my son, I am thinking that you have been called to 

* the office of "^cowboy’ instead of pastor or shepherd. You 
i must first become acquainted with the nature and disposition 
! of the stock you are herding; then you must know the plains 
I on which they are grazing, as well as the fountain at which 

they drink; next, you must become acquainted with the 
! enemies that prowl in the mountains and caves — the wolves 

that enter the fold and last, you must live where — though 
I not as — ^your herds live. There are some very exciting experi- 
ences and rough riding ahead of you, but if you keep all these 
things in view, and faithfully do your duty, regardless of what 
people say, it is my opinion that you will corral the kids of 
Kiddville. And, if you do not, I am very sure it will not be the 
fault of the Talm Tree.^ 

Palm Tree is my wife^s Christian name — or rather, her 
name is Tamar, which means palm tree. My father called her 
Palm Tree because of her hospitality and kindness, but espe- 
cially because she sheltered his son. 

It was within a half hour of time for the evening service 


22 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OR 


when niy wife returned from Brother Summers's. She re- 
ceived my father kindly and without surprise. He explained 
to lier that in passing back to his home in western Illinois, 
after selling a large herd of cattle in New York, he had found 
time to come by way of Eacketsburgh. Arriving in that 
town in time for the morning service, he worshiped there, and 
one of the brethern had brought him to Kiddville that after- 
noon. it would be a Hying visit, but all the more enjoyable. 

My wife informed us that as soon as the evening services 
were over she would return to George Summers. Her report 
of George's condition was that he was still unconscious, buc 
was moaning pitiously and murmuring something which they 
v ere unable to understand. 

At the evening services the church was crowded to over- 
flowing. Now, there were present a large niimber of young 
men with their lad}^ friends. My father aided me in the 
opening service (for, while he wns a farmer, he occasionally 
pleached). His presence was an inspiration to me. All effort 
to orate passed from my mind. I saw in his face an inspira- 
tion to w'in the hearts of the people by delivering the message 
of life. After the sermon many of the members whom I had 
never met came up and spoke to me. They all received my 
father very warmly. I felt that after all there was not mucJi 
gained by being a young preacher. One good brother, whom 
I had seen sitting on the front seat in the morning, said to 
me: 'H'm thinkin' the best way to git good preachin' out 
of you is to keep your father here." This remark may have 
been intended for a compliment, but it touched me so deeply 
that when w'e had reached home I told my father about it. 



CORRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 23 

He comforted me by saying that from what he could see and 
hear he thought it my first duty to win the friendship and 
confidence of the people, especially the young men, and preach 
to them later on. He insisted that when the time came that 
preaching was the chief article in demand, I would be able 
to supply the market if at present I did my duty as cowboy. 


Hr-- - 



24 


THa BOGGS BOTS, OB 


CHAPTER IV. 


MYSTERIOUS DEATH MESSAGE. 

OUR return home my wife went at 
once to Brother Summerses. I did not 
liave time to talk with her concerning 
the manner in which the doctor had dis- 
missed me from the scene of suffering, 
and now that my father was to leave on 
the moiTow I felt the necessity of im- 
proving the opportunity of taking fur- 
ther counsel with him. Deacon Bentley and his wife accom- 
panied Mrs. Atwood to her watch. Father and I talked till 
midnight, and I attribute much of my success in after life 
to tliat evening^s interview. He related to me the experiences 
of his boyhood, and further told me very many things about 
my childhood, all of which had passed out of my mind. When 
I retired I felt that I had lived my life over again. I also 
had a mucli higher appreciation of my father’s friendship. 
All these things strengthened my resolution to come into the 
companionable friendship of the boys of Kiddville that were 
hi the stress period of life. 

When I retired I soon fell into a deep sleep, into which 
there came a vision that I shall never forget. It appeared 
that I was crossing a plain, and came upon a lone emigrant, 



CORRALLING THE KIDS OP KIDDVILLE. 


2S 

an old ipan, with his wife and son. They had stopped for 
their dinner. Their horses, tied to long ropes, were feeding 
a few yards away. The father, mother and son appeared very 
happy as they sat within the shadow of a canvas they had 
stretched from their wagon. The father told me that he was 
intending to enter some land in the name of the boy, and 
spend his remaining days preparing a home for him. When 
I looked into the face of the lad my heart was drawn to him, 
and I felt that these parents were making no mistake in 
dedicating their lives to his future. Our conversation was 
interrupted by a roaring sound, and, lifting our eyes to the 
south, we saw a large herd of cattle coming directly toward us. 

“A stampede! The Lord have mercy on us!” said the 
father. The pony on which I was sitting took fright, and 
before I could get him under control had borne me away 
Irom the danger. The sight of the stampede was most thril- 
ling. In the lead a number of large steers were running with 
all their might. By the side of these leaders on his pony a 
cowboy was riding. Already he was beginning to change the 
course of these leaders, but yet he had not sufficient control to 
prevent a part of the herd from dashing over the lone emi- 
grant and his loved ones. Through the dust that followed I 
could see the wreck of the overturned wagon, and bending 
over the lifeless boy Avas the father. As, in my dream, I 
hastened to the heartbroken parents, a heavy rap upon my 
door awoke me. Answering the alarm at the door I admitted 
a messenger, who informed me that Dr. Quick wished me to 
come at once to the home of Brother Summers. 

Leaving the house and Grace in the care of my father, 1 


26 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OR 


iiastened away. I met the doctor at the door, and he said 
tenderly: 

*^We will need you now, Parson. I think a word of prayer 
Y* ill be comforting and helpful to these old people.^^ 

He led the way into the room, Y^here the boy was lying on 
a cot that stood in the center of the room. On one side of the 
cot sat the father; on the other, my wife was standing by the 
side of the aged mother caressing her gray hairs and speaking 
consolingly to her. Both parents were watching the boy's 
pale face, and they took no notice of us as we entered. The 
doctor led me to the fathePs side, and then said very tenderly 
(so very tenderly that I looked to see if it really was the same 
man whom I had heard speak so heartlessly to the people the 
(i ay before): 

‘^Father Summers, here is your pastor. Would you like 
that we should pray with you 

^vould,^^ replied the father, never moving his eyes from 
his boy. 

Then I, a young man — a mere boy, inexperienced in life, 
unacquainted with sorrow, knowing scarcely anything of a 
father’s love and nothing of a father’s sorroAV — tried to pray 
Yuth those parents, whose very life ^vas wrapped up in the life 
of their only son, the child of their old age. My work at 
first seemed hollov’^ and meaningiess. I could scarcely speak. 
Then it appeared that my own heart would break. I was be- 
ginning to sympathize — siiffer with those who suffered. It 
was a score of years before I knew how truly and fully I was 
placing my heart side by side with those parents. The solemn 


CORRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVIIXE. 


27 


and reverential ‘^amen"^ alone told me how faithfully I had 
discharged my duty as a petitioner before the Throne of 
Grace. 

The parents still sat in silence for fully ten minutes, when 
the father, looking up into the face of the physician, said: 

“Dear doctor, is there not one ray of hope? Can you not 
do something more to save him? He is our only treasure on 
earth 

^^iSlo hope, father, said the doctor, as he knelt and placed 
his arms around the old man, have done all in my power.'^ 

^G\nd will he never speak to us again ?” 

^Tle may,^^ said the doctor, consolingly. “^^We can only 
vatch and wait ; but it will be only a word.^^ 

A half hour more was spent in watch, the physician occa- 
sionally examining the pulse or tenderly caressing the hand 
of the sufferer. 

Then the sufferer^s eyes opened, and a bright expression of 
consciousness came into his face. 

^“^Mother!’^ he said distinctly. Instantly the mother bent 
over him, kissed him tenderly, and said : 

^‘Yes, my child, mother is here.^’ Then she drew back and 
the father drew near, and in trembling voice said: 

^^Son, do you know me? Speak, my precious boy. Do you 
know me 

^Tather,^^ was the labored reply. 

The physician’s hand was upon the pulse, and his jet black 
eyes were watching for the first ray of hope. I was repeatedly 
glancing into his face, knowing that his face would first give 


28 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OR 


CTidence of any possible cliaiice of the boy^s recovery. But 
it became more cloiuled, and the sufferer^s breath came slowly. 

^Tather/^ he whis 2 )ered, and we all held our breath and 
bent low, each feeling that the dreaded moment was near. 
^'Don^'t b-l-a-m>e the boys.^’ 

^^Oh! precious soul!^' sobbed the mother. ^^So Christlike.*^ 

^‘H-e-l-p/'^ and it appeared for a moment that his life had 
left him. Then he opened his eyes again and said faintly and 
imploringly, ^^H-e-l-p.^^ 

‘*0 doctor,^^ said the father, ^diis pleading will take my 
life. Is there one thing more you can do to help him?’^ 

^^His help must come from beyond,^^ said the physician. 

^^H-e-l-p.^^ 

^^Yes,^^ said the father. ^^We are helping you all we can. 
elesus will help you soon.^^ 

said the boy, a shadow coming over his face, ^^Help 
g(?t/^ and his eyes turned to his mother. 

said the mother. ^^He wants us to get something.^* 

^^What do you want us to get?^^ 

^The b-o-y-s.^^ 

^^Help get the boys. What boys 

^^What shall we get all boys 

^^0-u-t,^^ was the next word so faintly spoken that we could 
scarcely distinguish it. 

^^Be quick, said the doctor, ^^or you will loose his message. 
Let me speak to him.^^ Then placing his face close to the 
sufferer he said clamly: ^Y’es, George, we hear you, ^Help 
get all boys out.’ Out of what ?” 


CORRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


20 


The eyelids quivered, but could not open. The lips moved 
, and we were conscious that alh remaining strength was being 
summoned to frame an answer. They were scarcely audible, 
but we all caught these words: 

"^Sl-i-m B-a-t-e-s"s c-l-a-s-s."" 

The sweet; calm, peaceful smile settled over his face, and 
liis Father’s promised help had come. 

The father and mother dropped upon their knees and 
buried their faces in the pillow upon which the head of their 
lifeless boy was resting. The doctor — the rough, heartless 
doctor, as I but yesterday judged him to be — knelt by the 
side of the father, and offered the sweetest, most submissive 
and consoling prayer that I ever heard. My wife stood lean- 
ing on my arm, looking upon the wreck and ruin of a home 
which had come so suddenly and mysteriously, and which she 
and the physician had labored so hard to prevent. Then the 
mother’s heart went out after her home, and she whispered: 

‘^‘'Where is baby Grace?” 

'"Safe at home with father,” I replied. 

"Yes,” said the heart-stricken father, arising, for he must 
have heard my words to my wife, "He is safe at home with 
our Father.” 

The morning had dawned beautiful and bright, sunbeams 
were streaming in at the windows, and fell upon the face of 
the boy as a neighbor drew a napkin over it. 

"This is a beautiful morning on which to enter the Fathers 
house,” I said. 

"Yes,” replied the father, "so much like himself. He was 


30 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OR 


all brightness and sunshine. We shall not be long separated, 
for the night of my sorrow is nearly passed.^^ 

When we left the house the doctor accompanied us. \¥e 
could talk of nothing but the sad scene we had witnessed. 

^‘It is, in some respects, said the doctor, ^^the most re- 
markable case I have ever met in over thirty years^ constant 
practice. 1 believe he must have known all that we did and 
said, and yet he was unable to speak till the very last.^^ 

‘^AYhat do you think of what he said?'' I asked. 

think he said just what he intended to say, but his words 
were meaningless.^^ 

^^Who is Sim Bates asked my wife. 

^^Sim Bates,^^ he replied, ^^is a good-for-nothing, drinking 
devil that you can see loafing around town. He is fit for 
nothing on earth except to run a threshing engine. He hifs 
no class and never had. Instead of throwing light on the 
cjaise of his death the boy has only made it the more my.i- 
krious.^^ 



<X)RBALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


HI 


CHAPTER V. 



death. 


SAVING THE LIFE OP A KID. 

"1 HE DEATH of George Summers aroused 
^ the people, and an earnest effort was made 
“the guilty party. The grand jury 
■ took the matter in hand, hut no indict- 
ments were made. Bill Featherweight 
proved by unimpeachable witnesses that he 
was not in Kiddville on the day of George s 
While many persons thought he was the boy who 
escaped from the wreck at the church, others believed dif- 
ferently, and no one could he found who, upon his oath, 
could state positively that he saw Will in the wreck. The 
Boggs boys, of course, were closely questioned and cross- 
questioned as to what they knew about the case. They ad- 
mitted that the calves hitched to the sled were theirs, hut 
denied any personal connection whatever with the death of 
the Summers hoy. They said that they were in the barn 
playing cards, in company with some neighbor boys, when 
they heard a noise and rushed out only in time to see the 
calves, sled and boys go dashing through the barn lot and 
across the pasture towards the church. Who the boy was 


32 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OR 


that escaped they did not know, but took him to be Will. 
I’eatherweight. 

The boys told their stories so straight at all times and under 
the closest cross-question of the attorneys that nothing could 
be found against them. The testimony of Joseph Boggs and 
wife corroberated the story of their sons. The parents made 
no effort to shield their sons from any reports circulated 
about them, and admitted that, like most of the boys of Kidd- 
ville, they were wild and always looking for fun. The father 
said that an hour before the accident he had seen the calves 
in the woods pasture, and that the boys had not left the barn 
between that time and when he saw the calves rush through 
his barnyard. 

Many persons blamed the Boggs boys with the whole affair, 
and declared that their father was l3dng in order to keep his 
sons out of prison. Others believed that the boys had spoken 
the truth; but their position only made the death of George 
more mysterious. Father Summers, remembering his son^s last 
words, was least of all disposed to blame the boys. Indeed, he 
tried to prevent any investigation of the case. What George 
meant by ‘^^Bates^s class^^ the father did not know, but he 
felt sure that it was his duty to help the Boggs boys rather 
than to blame and prosecute them. 

Deacon Bentley said that Brother Summers was very foolish 
in his position, that trouble and old age were telling on him. 
^h4s for myself, said the deacon, will never rest until I 
sc>lve the mystery connected with George^s death. 

in the course of time the people ceased to gossip about the 


f mnnAT.T.TT Tft THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


tragedy, and soon lost interest in it, though they did not for- 
get it. I gave myself to pastoral work. At each meeting of 
the official board I tried to interest the brethren in some 
special work for boys and young men. At one time I sug- 
gested that the pastor, elders and deacons practice up a little 
on baseball, and then ask the young men to join with them 
in a match game. I argued that this would show to the boys 
Ibat we were mortals — only boys older grown, and that while 
wise from experience we had not lost our love for innocent 
sports, and especially for boys who always love sports. My 
sviggestion was instantly killed by Deacon Bentley, who said: 
*vl do not propose to make a fool of myself in such a manner, 
and I doffit think any other members of the board will either.'^ 
T kept my temper and argued that I could see no harm that 
could come from such a course, and that I thought it would 
be the part of wise men — not of fools — ^to win and hold thv* 
boys of Kiddville in the company of Christians. When the 
deacon flew into a passion, however, and said that he believed 
in answering a fool according to his folly, and that as long as 
ibe church had a boy for a preacher, the officers of the church 
would have boys’ play brought before them, I could not en- 
tiiely restrain my feeling. So I said: ^^Mr. President, I 
move that Deacon Bentley be appointed a committee of one 
to collect the boys of Kiddville into a class and teach them 
to play marbles scientifically. T have observed that he is an 
enthusiast in that game, and spends much time playing on the 
streets with Sim Bates, Lon Bass, Will Pegg and other fel- 
lows of that stripe. I am convinced that he could assert a 


34 


THE BOQGS BOYS, OB 


far better Christian influence by playing with the boys of the 
town/^ 

My motion was not seconded, but it had the desired effect. 
It cooled the deacon amazingly. He arose, and though his 
face was scarlet, he said meekly: confess I was too fast in 

speaking as I did, and I beg the brother's pardon. I can 
see how Brother Atwood, young as he is, feels very close to 
our boys and young men. I am glad that he feels as he does, 
and I shall be glad to see liim in any way that he can become 
their friend and companion. But I do think he is making a 
lui stake when he asks us, men that we are — some of us be- 
yond the meridian of life — to try to come as close to these boys 
as we can to men of our own age. We cannot do it. Again, 
I ask the brother to forgive me for my abruptness. I extend 
him my hand, and promise him my hearty support as long as 
he is our pastor.^^ 

The deacon^s sudden change was siich a surprise to me that 
I could not speak. I grasped his hand, shook it heartily, and 
the subject was dropped for the time. 

At another time I made an effort to get the officials and 
as many brethren as I could to ask the boys and young men 
to join us for three days in camping and fishing on Big Kun. 
But this suggestion, like all others that I made looking to 
bringing Christian men and the boys into enjoyable com- 
panionship, was set aside. 

At last I proposed that we call a meeting for boys and men 
only, and take counsel with the boys and see in what sort of 
special work they would be interested; but this suggestion 


COBRALLTNG THE KIDS OF KIDDTILLB. 


86 


wa? completely killed by Elder Knoall, who said: If 

Brother Atwood cannot find some better work to bring before 
the officers of the church I move that we look for a pastor 
who can/' This remark completely crushed me. I saw at 
once that all efforts along this line would be suicidal. Had it 
not been for my wife I would have presented my resignation 
at once, and sought a more congenial field of labor. She 
laughed at all my fears, and said that if I would let the of- 
ficers alone and follow my father's suggestion to live where 
the herds live, and come to know their natures and perils, I 
w ould soon find all the work to do that I could handle. 

At once I set about to get close to the boys. I had now 
been in Kiddville about three months. I knew most of the 
boys; that is, I knew to what families they belonged. They 
were very shy of me, however, and I felt that it was very 
iiuportant that I should get hold of the Boggs boys first. 

Freddie Boggs— not one of the much talked of Boggs boys, 
but a little four-year-old— had been very sick for some days 
with pneumonia. I thought it might be possible that I could 
call to see the child, but, from what people told me, I feared 
that I, a preacher, would not be kindly received. One day 
jest as T had about resolved to take the risks and call on the 
Boggses the doctor came driving up to the gate and called for 
my wife. 

^^Mrs. Atwood," he said, ^The Boggs kid is going to die. 
d’l:ere's nobody there that's got a thimbleful of brains. If 
\'(.u ('MTi s>o over it'll be a Godsend fer them." 


36 


THE BOGGS BOTS, OB 


• go/^ she said, as she rushed into the house to make 

preparations. 

^^Doetor, can I be of service I asked, thinking only to 
express my willingness to give aid. 

he replied gruffly. ^^They are not needing any pray- 
ing now. The further you keep away from the Bogges at 
present the better.^^ 

By this time my wife had returned. She had under her 
arm a bundle of red flannel, and in her right hand a large 
bottle filled with some yellow fluid. 

^^What have you in that bottle asked the doctor, as I was 
helping her into his buggy. 

^^The richest chicken oil you ever saw,” said my wife. 

^^Great heavens!” he exclaimed, have been sending all 
over creation for some, but could not find it. It is too late 
now. Youfll waste the oil if you put it on the kid. Hefll 
die, sure.” 

Soon after this I saw the doctor driving back to his offlce 
leisurely. It was nearing sundown of the same day when I 
saw him in his buggy go flying past my door. He was driving 
for dear life. ^^Somebody badly hurt or killed,” I said to 
myself. ^Trayers not wanted or he would have stopped for 
me.” 

An hour later I heard him coming back singing, ^^0, Think 
of the Home Over There.” His fine, thoroughbred roadster 
was moving along at a snail’s pace, head down like a plow 
horse. Stopping at my gate, the doctor called me out and 


CORRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


37 


said: “Your wife told me to tell you she would not come 
home to-night. She said you could get your supper with 
some of the brethren or do without, just as you pleased; hut 
to be sure to take good care of baby Grace.” 

“How is the sick boy?” 

“As fine as a fiddle. She has him so wrapped up in red 
flannel and chicken grease that you can’t tell him from a 
lobster out of the pot.” 

“He is better then, is he ?” 

“Better!” he replied, “he will get well as sure as fate. You 
could not kill him if you tried.” 

“Well, I am glad,” I said. 

“Say, Parson,” he continued, “you’ve got a jewel for a 
— a palm tree in a desert, a balm in Gilead.” 

“Thank you!” I said. 

“The truth is,” he went on, “if you understood your busi- 
ness half as well as she does hers you would revolutionize this 
town in a few years.” 

Then he drew up the lines and drove away, laughing till 
people could hear him for two squares. What there was to 
laugh at, I could not see. What he meant, I did not know. 


38 


THK BOGGS BOYS, OB 


CHAPTEE VI. 





HITTING THE MARK. 

EEDDIE BOGGS did get well. Through 
care for him my wife won the hearts of the 
Boggs family. This^ however, was of no 
particular advantage to me except that 
through her I gained a knowledge of the 
■ family, which consisted of seven members. 
There were first the father and the mother. 
Ihe oldest son was Andrewy — sometimes called Shortie, not 
because he was short, but because he was the shortest of the 
Boggs boys. The others were very large for their ages. In 
years Shortie was somewhere between eighteen and nineteen. 
Then came the twins, Herman and Theo. They were no fur- 
ther from eighteen on the lower side than Shortie was on 
the upper. Edwin, the fourth boy, was crowding on towards 
his seventeenth year. These four were so near alike in size, ago 
and disposition that they were always looked upon as being 
the same. It was said that when they were 3^ounger and 
smaller they could be seen wandering about down the roads, 
over farms, through the woods and along the streams like 
miotherless turkeys, looking for grasshoppers. And, turkey- 
like, they were very wild and shy of strangers, and only went 
!K)me at night to roost. Freddie, the youngest, we have a^- 


COBBALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


39 


ready introduced. Old Father Time had placed a chasm of 
over fourteen years in width between him and his youngest 
brother, so he was the object of the entire family^s affection 
and adoration. However devious the ways in wliich his oldest 
brothers might travel, they had each marked out for Freddie 
a very straight path. And when his life swung in the balance, 
arid Dr. Quick had in his own way informed the father that 
he would soon have a deeper interest in the little burying 
ground back of the church than he ever thought he could 
have, the world, with all its pleasures, sports and wealth ap- , 
pc ared very vain and small. It was at that particular moment 
that Mr. Boggs, in his wild grief, said: ^^Doc, if you will 
save the boy Fll give you the best forty acres of land IVe got.^’ ^ 

"^Tlon' t see how I could do it Boggs,^^ replied the doctor, ^^if i 

you give me a w^arranty deed to your whole farm and a quit- ^ 
claim to the church lot and graveyard. If you would like to 
have a little prayer service 1^11 go for the preacher.^^ 

said the father, ^^if the boy’s got to die we’ll get 
along without a preacher,” and he turned from the physician 
and steeled himself for the inevitable. It was at this hour 
that my wife came into the house. The doctor did not even 
enter with her. But in his blunt way said, as he was helping 
her out of the buggy, ^Teople don’t need introduction when 
they are facing death. You’ve got sense enough to be use- | 
ful,” and then he rode away. 

The family did not know who she was or when she entered I 
the house, but they soon became conscious of the presence j 
of a woman who was working with the child, and directing i 


40 


THE BOGOS BOYS, OR 


the members of the family as though she was mistress of the 
place. They were not long in discerning a change in the 
patient^ and when the stranger ordered Shortie to go for the 
doctor and tell him that if he would come hack he could save 
the boy Andrew lost no time. 

When the doctor had returned and pronounced the child 
very much better, he astonished Mother Boggs and the 
ei'tire family by saying, ^^Mr. Boggs, this is Mrs. Atwood, the 
yC'ung preacher^s wife. If you will leave Freddie in her care 
till morning and do everything she tells you to 1^11 go her 
security that the boy gets well.^^ Again he left, only stopping 
long enough to get the message he delivered me. 

But, as I have said, my wife’s winning the hearts of the 
Boggses was of little help to me. Mr. Boggs afterwards said to 
a neighbor: ^^A preacher and a preacher’s wife are entirely 
different critters. We swear by Mrs. Atwood at our house, 
but we have got no use for the beardless up-start of a preach- 
er.”* 

Boggs and his boys always spoke to my wife when they 
passed, but they merely looked at me and answered my salu- 
tations very indifferently. By and by Mrs. Boggs and Freddie 
called at the parsonage, and after some months I felt that I 
had partially won the respect of Mrs. Boggs. But I soon 
found that gaining the confidence of mother and winning the 
respect and friendship of her sons are two distinct tasks. It 
is much like gaining the love of a girl and the confidence of 
her father at the same time — not often attained by the same 
individual. 


CORRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVLLLE. 


41 


At last I decided to make a specialty of the boys. An op- 
portunity presented itself in a very unexpected way. In 
truth, 1 never thought of getting a hold on the boys by such 
means. I relate it because I am confident that good men are 
looking over the little and seemingly useless means by which 
they could win the admiration and confidence of boys. 

'Jlie officers of the church had been annoyed by the way in 
which the church spire was being damaged by woodpeckers 
boring holes in it. One day I was standing at my gate when 
Edwin passed, carrying a large old-fashioned rifie. I said 
to him, playfully, ^‘Edwin, if you will kill that red head on the 
c}}urch spire, Ifil give you a dime.^^ 

'^1 wouldffit shoot at it,^^ he replied, ^fif you would give me 
a dollar.^^ 

^AVhy notr 

^Cause if you splintered the spire the whole meetiffi house 
would be on you. Yoffid never hear the last of it.^^ 

^^Is your gun loaded I asked. 

^^Yes, and she^s a goodffi; goes right where you hold her.” 
^^Loan me the gun and I will kill the bird.^^ He smiled as 
he handed me the gun, saying sarcastically: ^Tll bet you 
will. Pap says preachers never hit the mark.^’ 

I took the gun, raised it to my face, and was about to fire 
w hen the boy touched my arm and said: ^^Say, Parson, if you 
splinter that spire Deacon Bentley and Daddy Knoall will 
be on your back with both their feet.^^ 

I looked straight into the boy^s eyes and said: You are 
mistaken/- 


42 


THE BOOOB BOYS, OB 


Adjusting my position so that no part of the spire was be- 
tween me and the bird, I took aim and shaved the bird off 
A\dthout touching the spire. 

'AVhillikers!'’^ he exclaimed. ^'Youh^e a ^crack shot/ eh?" 

‘^ISTo/^ I replied, ‘'but I think every man ought to know how 
to shoot a gun."^^ 

He looked at me in surprise as he took the gun out of my 
liands. Giving him a nickle, 1 said: "That will buy am- 
nnmition for that load.^^ 

His eyes took on a peculiar squint as he said: "I don’t 
want that, iTs worth a dollar to see a preacher shoot like 
tliat.^’ 

As I entered the house my wife said: "You hit the mark 
ouee, didn’t you?” 

"1 can do that every time,” 1 replied, for 1 really prided 
myself in my skill as a marksman. 

"There now,” said she, "I did not mean the bird. You 
liave caught that Boggs boy. Don’t you know it?” 

At that time I put but little store in the incident. 1 soon 
noticed a change in Edwin, however. He would stop a mo- 
ment at the gate. It was not long until I learned that he 
had filled the town with his praises of the preacher’s skill as 
a marksman. Then I began to seek a close acquaintance and 
friendship. 

One evening I was sitting in my door reading when he 
stopped a moment, and I made some inquiries as to books 
he had read. 

"Nothing,” he said, -‘cept ’rithmetic and g’ography.” 


COBBALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


43 


I gave him Oliver Optics's "'Now or Never." He took it, 
j^aying, "I'll bring it back as good as I got it." 

When he returned it he apologized for keeping it so long 
by saying: 

"Every last Boggs on the place had to read it 'cept 
Freddie, and pap read it to him. It's a good one." I con- 
tinued to furnish him with the books I had read when a boy 
While I was getting the boys to read a little I was not get* 
ting into their company. * That was what I was seeking. I 
now and then caught evidence of my hold on the family. 
The father would greet me more respectfully when he passed 
My wife suggested that it might be possible that I would have 
to win the Boggs boys at long range. 

I was not devoting myself to these persons exclusively all 
this time. But, on the contrary, was doing some very elBEec- 
tual work in other directions. I decided that it would be 
quite necessary for me to come in to touch with men, even 
tlie less noble men, if my work for boys and young men should 
be effectual. 

My sarcasm used on Deacon Bentley had leaked out in some 
v.ay and given Sim Bates, Lon Bass and Bill Pegg offense. 
This I learned by overhearing the conversation of some fel- 
lows of that stripe. 

While these persons and men of their class were the least 
honorable citizens, I saw that they were in touch with the 
very class I was desiring to help, and that they could neutral- 
ize every effort that I put forth. I resolved, therefore, to 
take my father's advice, and "live where the herd lived." The 
opportunity to do so came about in a very peculiar and un- 
expected manner. 


44 


THE BOGQS BOTS, OB 


CHAPTEE VII. 


‘‘BIRDS OP A FEATHER.” 



]fif OW THEEE lived in Kiddville a certain 
character by the name of Captain J oel Two- 
coats, a bosom friend of Lon Bass, who had 
once been a member of the church. They 
were still what the old lady called ^^hangers 
on,^^ . attending church spasmodically, with 
long periods of loafing, fishing and drinking 
between spasms. Their wives, however, were as intelligent 
and spiritual women as could be found in the county. Lon 
was a shiftless fellow — a carpenter by trade, and a good me- 
chanic, but so mortal lazy that his wife made the living. 
Captain — or Cap Twoc, as everybody called him — ^had been 
a captain in the army, and was a very patriotic and heroic 
soldier. He carried a bit of Confederate lead under his 
shoulder blade that at times threw him into such a state of 
intense suffering that he only found relief by filling up to 
the brim with ardent spirits. At such times his wife tool: 
him in hand and kept him shut in till he was able to appear 
on the streets clothed in his right mind. It was said that he 
could carry the biggest load of liquor and not show it of any 
man in the county. He drew a large pension, and, his wife 


COBBALLINO THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. . 45 

possessing two very valuable farms, he found no occasion for 
work. 

Unlike Lon Bass, Sim Bates or Bill Pegg, he could go into 
the very best society. He attended all weddings, birthday 
parties, family reunions, church festivals and the like. He 
was considered a very important factor in politics. He spent 
most of his time (when not shut in) loafing in stores, on street 
corners telling war stories and discussing the failure of church 
members. So that there was not a man in Kiddville who was 
as morally and religiously useless, and yet touched life in as 
many places as Captain Joel Twocoats. 

In many respects his power was marvelous. He could make 
an inexperienced preacher think himself the most eloquent 
orator that had ever filled a Kiddville pulpit, and the next 
day, perhaps. Cap would perforate his sermon with some 
sharp sarcasm, and the preacher would become the laughing 
stock in the eyes of all who had heard the blowing up which 
the captain had given him. 

The Fourth of July came on Sunday. I persuaded the 
brethren to have an all-day grove meeting. There was a large 
gathering of people from near and far. I delivered what the 
news correspondent called “A religeo-patriotic oration, un- 
equaled by anything that had ever been delivered in the 
State.” (Of course, this correspondent had heard everything 
that had been delivered, and was a most competent judge ) 
Something that I said caught the captain. Deacon Bentley 
said that I had struck the cap so hard that I had given the 
Confederate bullet under his shoulder blade a twist and 


46 


THE BOOQS BOYS, OB 


awakened all the patriotism. Anyway, I had pleased Cap 
Twocoats, and he was not long in exalting me to a very lofty 
position in the minds of the boys — Lon Bass, Bill Pegg, Sim 
Bates and their stripe. 

Cap met me a few days later and told me that he and the 
boys wanted me to go with them on a camping and fishing 
expedition. ^‘^The fellows are a little tough at times,^^ he 
said, ^^but they are big-hearted, and yon can do them good if 
you will go with us.’^ 

I seized the opportunity, and told him I would be very 
glad to go. Ten days later, in a large four-seated hack, in 
company with seven men, we drove down to the center of 
town, and stopped at the store foj a nioment. Captain Two- 
coats and I, with a sixteen-year-old boy as driver, occupied the 
front seat. Bill Pegg, Lon Bass and Sim Bates brought up 
the rear. Another wagon loaded with tents, cooking utensils, 
provisions and a cook, had gone before. Passersby were mak- 
ing sharp remarks, and women and children stood in doors 
and by gates to see the campers go out of town. Across the 
street was Dr. QuickCs office. I really hoped to get out of 
town without attracting his attention, but just as we were 
ready to start he stepped to the door and yelled out, ^^Great 
Caesar! Birds of a feather! Say, Cap, yoilTe going to take 
a praying machine with you this time, are you? Well, the 
Lord knows you need him if you all get as drunk as you did 
the last time.'’ The crowd laughed and sent back many 
sharp answers as we drove away. Amidst the shouting I 
heard the doctor say: 


OORBALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLB. 


47 


'‘Parson^ if you need my help, send for me/' 

• * * * 

By evening we were comfortably settled in our tents, and 
the cook spread our first regular meal. As we gathered round 
the table the fellows appeared embarrassed from some cause. 
To throw this off Sim Bates made an unchaste remark, at 
which the boy laughed so heartily that he could not restrain 
himself, when Captain Twocoats said: 

^“^Boys, this is the first time we ever had a preacher with us, 
hadn't we. better have prayers before meals?" 

"^‘Yes," said the majority of the crowd, but the boy was 
still laughing as the captain, nodding at me, said: 

^Troceed, Parson." 

T offered a brief word of thanks, and there came to my mind 
my father's words, ^^Live where they live, not as they live.'' 
Mentally I prayed for strength and wisdom so to live. 

That evening a few lines were set, and some plans made for 
the morrow's sport. Then we gathered around a little fire 
that had been kindled and story-telling began. At first these 
stories were enjoyable, but as the fellows began to feel free 
and easy they became more bold, and the tone of the jokes 
and stories took a shadiness that was very disagreeable to me. 
The more impure the jokes became the more the sixteen-year- 
(dfl boy saw to laugh at. I tried to turn the drift of conver- 
sation by relating some laughable experiences in my own life, 
jmd repeating some pure witticism which I had read. But 
the current was too strong for me. The coarser fellows evi- 
dently discerned my purpose, and went so far in the other 
direction that Cap Twocoats called an abrupt halt and sug- 
gested it was time to turn it. 


48 


THE BOGOS BOYS» OB 


On the morrow I took my rifle, and, in company mth the 
boy driver and two others, went on a hunting expedition. 
When in the middle of the afternoon we returned to the camp 
my comrades were so loud in my praise as a marksman that 
a shooting match was got up, in which I took great delight, 
feeling that I had, excelling in one point, won the admiration 
of all in the camp. The following night two fellows were out 
Ashing the whole night. The evening conversation was no 
better than the evening before.. The third day the whole 
company spent in fishing, where I felt that I was at a disad- 
vantage. I knew little about fishing, and nothing whatever 
about catching bass. I put myself, however, under the tutor- 
ship of Lon Bass, Bill Pegg and Sim Bates. Some time in 
the middle of the forenoon my line took on life suddenly. 
My reel began to spin. Awaking to ihe situation, I instantly 
stopped the reel and surged upon the pole with all my 
strength, bringing to uie surface of the water somewhere 
near the middle of the stream a fish that looked to be some- 
thing like a foot in length. I gave a second surge, when my 
line snapped, and I heard Sim Bates blurt out: 

^^Blasted fool, you habnT got sense enough to keep out of 
the fire. That was the biggest bass I ever saw in the creek, 
and got away because a preacher didn’t 'have sense enough 
to land him.” 

These remarks 'drew from all who heard them a laugh that 
greatly rasped my feeling. Sim made no apologies, but 
turned away mumbling something that I could not under- 
stand. That I was deeply vounded counted for nothing with 


C50BBALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDFILLE. 


4y 

Mm, and with some of the others in the camp. If I couldn't 
lish well I could do nothing well in their estimation. I was 
greatly disheartened and wished myself at home, for I had 
lost in fishing all I had gained in shooting. 

Captain Twoeoats came to me and apologized for Sim and 
the other fellows, saying: ^^ICs just as I told you, the fellows 
are tough but big-hearted. Besides, they have a little liquor 
ahead, Fm thinking.^^ These words might have been some- 
v/hat conciliatory if they had not been home upon a breath 
scented with bad whisky. 

T withdrew myself from the fishers and returned to the 
camp. In the evening when the men came in they were 
greatly under the influence of liquor. Their loud laughing, 
coarse and obscene story-telling, was humiliating beyond meas- 
ure. The boy, however, was greatly enjo3n[ng everything he 
saw and heard, and laughed unceasingly. 

By raorniug everybody in camp was drunk except myself. 


50 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OR ' 


CHAPTEE VIII. 


DR. QUICK’S PRESCRIPTION. 





HAD come to live /Vhere the herd lived/^' 
and had found the ^‘^foiintain^^ at which some 
of the boys ^‘^drank^^ freely. I could not 
think of leaving. I knew that they were not 
themselves. I was in the midst of the stam- 
pede — cowboy sure enough,, side by side with 
the leaders of the herd. My dream and the words of my 
father came back to me. That I had reached the point where 
J must do some ‘^h'ough riding^^ I could not doubt. The day 
was one of hilarity. The jug was brought out and they 
drank in my presence. They w^ere not all dead drunk, but 
they w^ere all under the influence of liquor, and were behaving 
j list as whisky makes men behave. It does not effect all men 
alike. It made penniless Lon Bass a millionaire. He boasted 
oi his wealth in a manner that I would have supposed im- 
possible. It made a prize fighter of one of the fellows, and 
he did not have to wait long till he found his match. Ho 
sooner wus the drunken fight over than the bellicose parties 
became bosom friends, and cooed and cuddled over each other 
in a sickening manner. Sim Bateses whisky converted him 
iTito a preacher, to v/hom all the others gave audience, sing- 



COBBALLINO THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


51 


ing, praying or shouting as he might direct. He quoted 
scripture glibly, and some of his thoughts would have graced 
any pulpit; others would have caused fiends to blush. 1 
watched it all, wishing for counsel, not knowing what to do. 
At last Sim shouted: 

^^Say, fellows, this nieetin^ will never be a success till we 
baptize some fellow. There’s Cap Twocoats, he didn’t join 
meetin’ right any how; let’s baptize him.” Then they started 
in a half stupor. Twocoats was sitting an the ground and 
leaning his back against a tree. He gave a sickening smile 
at the fellows and said: 

'^Be keerful, fellers! Be keerful!” 

I sprang to the captain’s side, and giving Sim, who was 
lust putting his hands on Twocoats, a shove, sent him 
sprawling on his face. I said: 

^^Stop, men, you shall not do such a sacrilegious thing!” 

They all stood back and laughed heartily at Sim, who, 
scrambling to his feet, struck an attitude, and said: 

^^Get behind me, Satan, or I’ll have to cast you out.” 

“No you will not!’’ I said, “but you fellows shall stop these 
shameful proceedings.” 

Again he reached for his victim, when I gave him another 
push which sent him against the bystanders so violently thar 
one of^them sat down with great emphasis, at the same time 
littering an oath that made my blood run cold. When Sim 
regained his feet I saw that he was very angry. Placing him- 
self squarely in front of me, and addressing the others, he 
said: ' 


TXB BOGGS BOTS, OB 


you fellows will stand by me Fll put the devil out of 
camp/^ 

^^Go ahead, Sim/^ they shouted, ^Vell stand by you/^ 

^^All right he said. ^^As Moses resisted the serpent in 
the wilderness, TIV ^ — and he sprang at me like a wild beast. 
I leaped to one side and struck him a blow that dropped him 
to the ground as suddenly as if he had been shot. 

^^Goodl^^ I heard some one say. ‘Tarson, that is the best 
lick you have struck since you came to Kiddville.^^ And 
there stood by my side Dr. Quick. If an angel had dropped 
(3 own from heaven I would have been no more surprised, 
neither would he have been more heartily welcomed by me. 

No sooner did the others discover the doctor at my side 
than they began to laugh and shake hands. Sim, gathering 
himself up, came to me with an outstretched arm, saying: 

‘^Tarson, you^re a blamed fool on fishin^, but you know how 
to shoot and strike.^^ I took his hand as I said: 

glad you are learning that I can do some things 

well.^^ 

Then they went for the jug, but I had emptied all the grog 
that I could find on the ground, knowing that camp would 
not break up till the whisky ran out. They were much 
angered over the disappearance of the liquor, and bid fair 
to get into a quarrel, when the doctor said: 

^^DonT fight over it, fellows. IVe got a little in my buggy, 
enough for you to sober up on. You can have it if you will 
agree to sober up and come home.^^ ^ 

They all agreed to do so, and he continued in a drawling 
tone: ^Tf I did not know you would you could not have a 


CORRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLB. 


5d 

diop of it/" Then he started for his buggy. I followed him 
a few yards and said: 

^^Doctor, do not give them any more. They have had 
enough."" He stopped, and, facing me, said: 

‘‘Did not I tell you you dp not understand your business ? 
^\^hen I want you to prescribe for my patients Til call you. 
Go back to the camp; you need not drink unless you want to."" 
There it was, I had run up against the thorny side of the 
doctor once more. Keally he was becoming more and more 
a puzzle to me. 

When he returned he urged the fellows to drink freely. 
He insisted upon my tasting it, but I stoutly refused. He 
even poured it down the captain, who growled at being forced 
to drink when he had enough. 

Then the doctor and I took a walk back to the buggy, 
wliere we talked quite a while. ^'There is one thing about 
tliis matter,"" I said, ^Tor which I am thankful."" 

‘^What is that?"" 

‘‘The boy did not see the outrageous proceedings to-day. 
lie is in a drunken sleep."" 

“We]],"" said the doctor, guess all those fellows are about 
j-eady to see me again. Let us go back. They will never for- 
get to-day"s drunk."" 

When we reached the camp they were the sickest set of men 
I had ever placed my eyes upon. They begged and prayed 
the doctor to give them assistance, but he only laughed at 
tliem or jeeringly told them that Sim"s sermons ought to 
have prepared them all for death. Then he said: Ht would 
be a blessing on the community and your friends if you would 


54 


THE, BOGGS BOYS, OR 


die/' 1 became alarmed at the condition of some of the 
men. When they did begin to get relief they all wanted to 
go home. A sicker and more humiliated set of men never 
broke up camp. AVe landed them in Kiddville about mid- 
night. 

The doctor boldly declared that their sickness was a mys- 
tery to him. The whisky, he said, was twentj-year-old bour- 
bon, just what he used in typhoid fever. The men could noi 
remember much about v^iat occurred, only that they were 
very sick. The truth was we were all sick. While I did not 
live as they lived, I was not as sick as they were, yet I was ; 
sick. Two points only had 1 gained: First, a knowledge , 
of how the herd lived; second, I had shown to the people that i 
T was willing to be companionable and loyal to men just as ' 
I found them. j 

This last point was an important one. I soon found thj : 
way to be with men. I attended all primary conventions of i 
my party, all spelling schools and general gatherings to | 
which I wiis invited. I won many prizes at shooting matches, j 
I went on hunting expeditions and sleigh rides with the | 
young men and boys. I preached in nearly all neighboring “ 
schoolhouses, and w’as quite popular when it came to marry- ■ 
ing people. 

Mrs. Atwood had not been idle all this time. The doctor 
had thoroughly introduced her to the sick and needy people. I 
Nor was this all — she threw open wide the doors of the par-t 
sonage, not for tea parties, ^^Mugby junction" suppers, and 
festivals, but for the purpose of making it homelike to those | 


COBBAUJNG THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLB. 


55 


whose homes were unpleasant. Young as she was, many loved 
iier and counseled with her as a mother. Young men who were 
in a measure shy of me on the street, in the church or in 
other personas homes, were in my own home quite companion- 
able. She did not teach a Sunday school class of boys, but 
[she prevailed on Dr. Quick to take up this work. She de- 
t dared that if she had to nurse his patients he must teach 
'hers. And such a class as it was, I shall never forget. There, 
|as elsewhere, he had his thorny as well as tender and sym- 
Ipathetic side. He permitted no one except Mrs. Atwood to 
make any suggestions concerning his class. And what was 
.Strange, he held every young man that he got hold of. He 
said: ^^They donT dare leave me. They might die if they 
did.^^ 

I had been in Kiddville about three years, and was be- 
ginning to flatter myself that I was turning the course of 
things. In other words, I was beginning to ^^round up’^ the 
stampede of years, when a sensational evangelist — a woman 
—struck the community with the force of a Western cyclone. 
I supposed that my work would be utterly destroyed in the 
Imidst of tlie great religious excitement that would follow the 
[appearance of this preacher. J adjourned all my meetings 
ind attended the revival. I also recommended that my peo- 
ple should attend en mass, which they did. Some of the 
icenes that were enacted during this meeting were so un- 
reasonable and contrary to the spirit of Christianity that I 
rould scarcely restrain myself from crying out against them. 
But I continued to be a silent observer, and carefully studied 
effect which the excitement was having on the young 


56 


THE BOOOS BOTB, OB 


people. Scores of souls were reported converted. I am 
sure I rejoiced in their conversion. But when the noise of 
the ‘h^eligious storin^^ had passed away I found that the face 
of the country remained the same, and I went back to my 
work to wait patiently the full development of the harvest 
time. I had a few ardent supporters. Among them was a 
young man of some twenty-three years, whose character was 
beyond reproach. x\lso 1 found myself coming into quite an 
intimate friendship with a number of young men who car- 
ried tliemselves in a very commendable manner while in my 
presence. It was reported, however, that when they were out 
of my company they were quite un gentlemanly in their be- 
havior. 

As far as ^^the Boggs boys^^ were concerned, although I was 
fiequently in their company, I could not see that I was any 
nearer to them or that I had any more influence over them, 
than I had the flrst day I came to Kiddville. My two years’ 
experience confirmed me in my belief that they were leaders 
of boys who were in the stress period. I thought that within 
another year if I did not succeed in coming in touch with 
‘^the Boggs boys^’ I might possibly get the other young people 
from under their influence. 

At this time things took a very sudden turn with me. The 
evangelist had made my people restless, and some of them 
wanted a change. The gossips turned against me. It was 
commonly circulated that I had been drunk on fishing ex- 
peditions, and that I had gambled at shooting matches and 
horse races. Many of my former supporters began to treat 
me coolly, and some turned against me. It was reported that 


CORBALLINO THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE, 


57 


Deacon Bentley was seeking a chance to retaliate for the cut- 
ting speech I had made against him in the official board 
meeting. The officers of the church decided to take up my 
case, and I would have saved them this trouble by resigning 
my position if it had not been for Mrs. Atwood and Father 
Summers. 

Dr. Quick attended the meeting of the officers. He said: 
“T^ve only got a minute to stop. I want to say my piece and 
then go and see a man down on Big Eun. I hear you fel- 
lows are talking about letting the young preacher leave Kidd- 
ville. I never knew of a doctor being turned off in the midst 
of bad sickness that the patient did not die. If you fellows 
turn off this young preacher you'll be the biggest set of idiots 
that ever tampered with the Lord^s doings. If you are going 
to let a set of gossiping old women and lazy, whisky guzzling 
loafers talk you out of your duty to your pastor you can 
just take your old church and go to Davy Jones with it. 
^ ou^ll never get another cent of my money. Then, picking 
up his medicine case, he left. 



68 


THE BOGQS BOYS, OB 


CHAPTER IX. 


SIM BATES’S CLASS. 

HE OPPOSITIOX soon revealed many 
friends unknown to me as friends. These 
persons w^ere not slow in expressini^,- 
themselves to the officers, who, in turn, 
decided that my services should he con- 
tinued for another year. This, however, 
did not silence the gossips. I knew- thi? 
could never be done till I gave them 
some topic that would divert their attention from me. This 
I resolved to do at the earliest date possible; but I never 
dreamed of getting such a topic before them as I did. 

I saw, also, that it would he necessary to set Captain Two- 
coats, Lon Bass, Sim Bates and the others of their stripe be- 
fore the people in their true characters. I saw no possible 
chance of turning the young men and boys into nobler ways 
of living until I had utterly destroyed the immoral influences 
of the persons I had named. 

Besides, I had never been able to disassociate the name of 
Sim Bates with the tragic* death of George Summers. I had 
never met Sim but what I thought, ^^Here is the man who 
could tell how George came to his death.^^ When at the 
camp on Big Run I struck Sim, a voice seemed to say 



CORRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLB. 


69 


to me: ^^Yoii have struck the murderer of George Sum- 
mers/^ I think a week never passed that I did not think 
of that boy^s dying words: ^^Help get the boys out of Sim 
Bateses class/^ I never made an effort to help the boys of 
Kiddville that Father Summers did not second. But study 
as hard as I might, talk to whom I would, I could get no light 
on the death message. 

One day as I was driving down the pike from Racketsburg 
I was startled with the thought: ^^It is three years to-day 
since 1 preached George Summerses funeral, and I know no 
more of Sim Bateses class than when I first heard of it.^^ Mv 
horse was trotting along leisurely, and I was enwrapped in 
the mystery that so often made me do — what in the eyes of 
ethers were counted foolish things, and gave me the appella- 
tion of the ^absent-minded parson^ — when I was disturbed by 
a footman crying, ^^Say, young man, are .you goin^ to Kidd- 
ville 

am/’ I replied, reining up my horse. ^^Would you like 
to ride?^^ 

^^Don^t care if 1 do,^^ said the stranger, seating himself at 
I my side. ^^Do you live at Kiddville ?” 

: do.^^ 

^"You muvst be a youngster thaFs growed up since I left." 

I ^Terhaps. How long since you leftP^ I asked. 

^SSix years last fall. Beats creation how fast kids get to 
i men; but you are not over eighteen, are you?^^ 
i little,^^ I replied. I now knew he had taken me for a 

'! [boy of the town, and I thought that if he was an old citizen 
*1 might get some pointers. I judged him to be somewhat 
tough, as T detected the smell of liquor on his‘ breath. 


60 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OR 


^^Any thing new at Kiddville he continued. 

believe not — well, yes, there is. Burglars broke into 
C. L. Stones^s store last night/^ 

‘^^Don^t say. Git anything much?^^ , 

^‘1 could not say as to that, I left very early this mom- 
ing.^^ 

•^^Got any ide’ who the fellers was 

^‘1 think not — well, yes, I heard some one say that they 
thought it was home talent. 

^^Graduates from Sim Bates's class, Fll bet.^^ 

If he had shot me I would have been no more surprised. 

‘^Sim Bateses class,^^ I replied. ^^What is that?^^ 

He gave me a searching glance and said: ^^Don^t fool with 
your uncle, sonny. Don’t tell me that you don’t know what 
Sim Bates’s class is.” 

^'^Well, I do not,” I replied. . 

am a liar myself!” he said. ^Tll bet your the biggest 
toad in the piiddle; you can’t fool your daddy.” 

‘^^But, truly,” I replied, know nothing about such a class. 
'J ell me about it. I would like to join it.” 

“I’ll bet you would!” and, drawing a flask from his pocket, 
he said: ^^Take some, won’t you?” 

^^No, thank you!” I replied, pushing the flask away, have 
bad enough for to-day.” 

‘^^Been to town, eh ?” Then he took a long pull at the flask 
and continued: ^^That’s right, sonny. Be temperate is my 
sentiments. And you don’t know anything about Sim Bates’s 
class?” Well that’s queer; but maybe he’s quit teaching and 


GOBBALLINO THE KIDS OF KIDDVIIXE. 


61 


gene to preaching. HeM made a rattling success if he^d just 
let liquor alone. They used to meet out in the woods back 
of Joe Boggses farm.^^ 

^^What kind of a class was it? What did they do?^^ ] 
asked. 

^^He called it an advanced class of all Sunday schools — a 
union affair — and had neither politics nor religion in it. It 
was made up of hoys and young men who felt too big to at- 
tend Sunday school or meetin^ Bates would let a boy get to 
be about so big, and then he was after him. As regular as 
Sunday morning came he’d get the fellers together in the 
’ woods somewhere, if the weather was nice; if it was bad, 
tlmy’d go to a barn, cow shed, or sugar house. They’d swear, 
;j drink, play cards, and listen to Sim preach. I have heard 
him say some as fine things as was ever got off in a Kidd- 
; ville pulpit. The meetin’ would last as long as they had any 
1 whisky or beer.” 

As he talked I sat and looked at him in perfect amazement, 
lie said: 

^"'You needn’t look at me that w^ay, young man. You’ve 
not seen all the world yet. Never will you see the inside of 
I it. I know’d you was ‘^a greenie’ as soon as I looked at you. 

I Boys w^ere not the only fellers in Sim’s class. I have seen 

some of the high-toned church members there — Cap Two- 
eoats among them.” 

I continued to draw him out till we came to the bridge at 
the north end of Kiddville, where he left me. I resolved to 
see Sim’s class for myself, let it cost what it might. With 
the information I now^ had I was not long in locating the 



62 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OB 


class and its place of meeting. The following Lord^s day I 
announced that there would be no preaching the next Lord’s 
day because of important business elsewhere. I left Kidd- 
ville the following Thursday, ostensibly to see my father in 
v/estern Illinois. 

The following Lord’s day was beautiful, and calculated to 
inspire a spirit of worship and praise. Sim Bates and his 
associates on that day found a half-drunken tramp with an 
empty and a well-filled whisky flask lying in the woods within 
about fifty yards of the place at which the class was to meet. 
With this tramp Sim struck up an acquaintance, and invited 
him to join his Sunday school class. The invitation was ac- 
cepted somewhat reluctantly. The tramp said he had all the 
liquor he wanted, and that he never drank other people's 
liquor, and never let them drink his. Sim told him that he 
could drink his own whisky, but he would miss a load of fun, 
as they had a new scholar to initiate that day. It was by this' 
means that the supposed tramp succeeded in getting through 
the day without drinking of their liquor, an^ indeed, while 
he appeared to be drinking he did not touch a drop of spirits 
to his lips. When the class adjourned the tramp was left in 
the woods drunk, as was supposed. 

I had fully expected to see some very disgraceful things, 
but none such as I witnessed. Bad as it was, I determined 
to publish the affair just as I had witnessed it. There was in 
the town of Eacketsburg a consecrated Christian editor, in 
whom I had great confidence. I told him what I had done 
and seen,#and I solemnly promised him that if he would pub- 
lish my expose of Sim Bates’s class I would, if necessary, take 
ali the consequences in case the author’s name was demanded 
by the courts. 


COBBAIXIKG THE KIDS OF KIDDYILLB. 


63 


CHAPTER X. 


“THE EXPOSE/' 

X THE Wednesday following the events 
recorded in the last chapter, as 01 — the 
mail carrier and hack driver — on his re- 
tiirn from Eacketshnrg stopped his team 
in front of the postoffice, the usual loafers 
were holding their accustomed place, 
little dreaming of the surprise that was 

in store for them. 

^‘^You fellows will wake up when you see the Racketsburg 
TrumpeV^ said the driver. 

^‘Why ?” drawled Lon Bass. ^^WhaPs the talk ffiout Rack- 
etsburg now 

^TainT ffiout the burg: iPs all ffiout Kiddville/^ 

^^WhaLs the trouble with Kiddville?^^ asked another. 

^^Trouble enough! The devil ^il be to pay if the Trumpet 
tells the truth, was the reply. 

‘^^Sensation ? Scandal? Or what?’^ queried Captain Two- 
coats. 

You'll think sensation when you read it. Get your papers 
and see for yourself,^^ said 01, as he drove away. 

When the mail was distributed a rush was made for the 
papers. The captain was the first served. The following 
headlines met his eyes: 



64 


THE BOQGS BOT(», OB 


KIDDVILLB SCANDAL! 


THE SHAMEFUL PROCEEDINGS 

OF 

SIM BATES’S CLASS, 

AS 

WITNESSED AND EXPOSED 

BY 

A MAN UP A TREE. 

‘‘Great heavens, fellows he said. ^‘'Listen to this!^^ Then 
backing np against the counter, he read: 

‘Tor a number of years it has been known that some subtle, 
yet mighty force, was neutralizing the efforts of the most 
moral and religious people of Kiddville. While there are no 
dram shops in the village, strong drink, by some means, finds 
its way to the boys and young men of the community as well 
as to the topers. The inability of the Christian workers to 
win and hold boys in the Sunday school and churches has 
been deplored by all good people. Thus far no one has been 
able to tell just what the hindrance is, but it is most cer- 
tainly revealed by our correspondent, who signs himself ‘A 
Man Up a Tree.^ While his communication discloses deeds so 
shameful that they appear impossible, yet our informant is 
a man who occupies a high position in society, and he is in 
every way responsible. He not only expresses a willingness, 
but also an eagerness, to meet in the courts of justice the 
parties whom he names, if they will have it so. We admit 
the letter to our columns because we believe that the moral 


CORBALLING THE KIDS OP KIDDYILLE. 


65 


safety of the boys of Kiddville and vicinity will be preserved 
thereby. — Editor. 

‘^^The Christian parents of Kiddville might justly be 
charged with inexcusable — if not criminal — blindness to the 
perils that surround their sons and daughters. Last Lord’s 
day morning as Christian fathers and mothers sat in their 
respective churches worshiping ^God and praying His riche^it 
benedictions to rest upon them and theirs, the devil, incarcer- 
ated in the whisky-soaked skins of one of Kiddville^s topers 
and his helpers, was making ample provisions to prevent the 
answer to these prayers. 

^Gn Elder Brokman^s pasture that lies along Little Kun, 
just south of Kiddville, there is a thickly wooded plot of about 
three acres that is elevated above the stream some twenty or 
thirty feet. Being located far from the public road, and also 
sr*rrounded by thick undergrowth, this spot of ground makes 
a splendid hiding place for the devil and his colaborers. 

^^Last Lord^s day morning, as the church bells were calling 
young and old, rich and poor, saint and sinner, to the sacred 
and inspiring associations to be found in the communion of 
saints, Sim Bates, accompanied by his right and left hand 
supporters. Captain Twocoats and Lon Bass, strolled down the 
creek, crossed the pasture, and were soon in this thicket, where 
they had secreted two kegs of beer and a two-gallon jug of 
whisky. 

^^Ko sooner had they reached this place than they pro- 
ceeded to open their Bibles, as they called the kegs of beer, 
and enjoy what the captain called ^an inflow of the spirit.^ 


THK BOGGS BOYS, OB 


H 

The following bit of conversation throws light upon the pur- 
pose of their coming to this particular place: 

^Sim, I guess your Sunday school class is going to bo 
small to-day/ said Lon Bass. 

^You will have to offer some kind of prize for new schol- 
ars/ interposed the captain, ^or Atwood will knock you out 
as bad on Sunday school as he did down on Big Eun.^ 

^No he^ll not,^ replied Sim. Tve got the bulge on him 
to-day. Vve got a new scholar comin^, one of the parson^s 
lambs.^ 

T bet a keg of beer its not a Boggs boy,^ laughed Lon. 

^YouYe right there. I donT want any of them in my 
class. As long as they cuss the preacher as they do, and 
everybody thinks them the meanest devils around, they make 
splendid scapegoats.^ 

^Who is your new scholar?^ 

^The old elder’s boy/ replied Sim, with a hearty laugh. 

. ^Holy Moses!’ ejaculated the captain. ^He is the best 
young fellow in Kiddville. Everybody banks on him as a 
young saint. He is held up as an example for everybody.’ 

^They won’t hold him up any more,’ said Sim, again giv- 
ing a fiendish laugh. ^They’ve got to be very good if I can’t 
get them some way.’ 

^^By this time other persons put in an appearance. Soon a 
crowd of about twenty-five persons sat around the beer kegs. 
In the number were boys as young as fourteen years. They 
all smoked, drank, played cards and engaged in telling ob- 
scene stories. Often these tales took on a personality that 
defamed the character of some of the most virtuous wives and 


COBBALLIKO THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLB. 


57 


daughters in Kiddville. The boldness with which young 
boys spoke of their shameful affiliations showed how rapidly 
tliey were learning in Sim Bates’s class. 

“In the course of time The elder’s boy/ accompanied by 
Bill Pegg, entered the ring. Evidently this was the young 
man’s first departure from the path of rectitude. He soon 
became clay in the potter’s hand. The beer loosened his 
tongue and drove away all sense of shame. His efforts to be 
tough were very laughable to the more advanced in Sim 
Bates’s class. They mocked him and asked him which he 
liked the better — the liquor they gave him or that he received 
from the old man in the meetin’ house. The vileness of the 
conversation that accompanied the drinking was only sur- 
passed by the debauch of which we cannot write. 

^^The parties departed as they had arrived, singly or in 
small companies, just as it pleased. Some remained till dark- 
ness covered the peaceful village of Kiddville. The day’s 
work was done. One happy Christian home had been in- 
vaded. The fruitage of the day’s sowing no mortal can tell. 
Some of the leaders of this diabolic school pose as honorable 
citizens of our glorious Kation. Sad as it may appear, some 
of them were once patriots, whose love of country was only 
equaled by the heroism that sustained them on battlefields 
and in prison pens. Chief among these is the captain, who 
never loses an opportunity to flaunt his army service before 
the people. By becoming a chief actor in the scene described 
above he not only forfeits the honor, confidence and protec- 
tion of the nation he once served, but he places an odium 
upon those true heroes who should have the honors of a grate- 


68 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OR 


ful nation. Surely, in the eyes of an intelligent public, the 
leaders in such deeds of shame can only he looked upon as 
enemies of the temporal peace, moral heart, and sacred honor 
of our boys and young men, if not traitors to the nation on 
which they are pensioners. 

‘^^But this is not all — many of our citizens will call to mind 
the tragic death of one our boys, which occurred some two 
years ago. This boy^s dying words were: ^^Get the boys out 
of Sim Bates’s class.’ May it not be possible that Sim Bates 
and his supporters are in some way responsible for the un- 
timely death of that innocent? It appears so to 

Man Up a Tree.” 

^^By the eternal!” said Captain Twocoats, when he had fin- 
ished reading. ^‘^The party who wrote that article will get 
cold lead as sure as I find out who he is.” 

Many bystanders turned deathly pale when they heard his 
oath. They feared the consequences. Twice before he had 
made like threats and had not hesitated to put them into 
execution. The people became intensely excited. The cap- 
tain at once rode to Eacketsburg and interviewed the editor, 
who was very calm, and said he would only disclose the name 
of the informant when he was legally forced to do so. 

'Idle editor having served in the same regiment with the 
captain, and also being bound by political and fraternal ties 
to him, found the angry man more considerate than he would 
have been to another person not so bound to him. The cap- 
tain left the editor’s office declaring that if he could not find 
the party by any other means he would by law force the editor 
to give the contributors name. 


CORRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLB. 


69 


Saturday noon following I returned to Kiddville and found 
the community in a state of intense excitement. Mrs. At- 
wood told me many things that had been said. She believed 
that Sim Bateses class had been destroyed^ and that Captain 
Twocoats would be perfectly understood thereafter. 

About 3 o^clock as I walked down the street I discovered 
a barber had opened a shop in a little building that had once 
been used as a doctor^s office. Stepping in, I was greatly sur- 
prised to find that the proprietor was the party who had told 
me about ^^Sim Bates’s class.” He was alone, and 1 threw 
myself in the chair, supposing he did not recognize me. He 
gave me a brief history of himself, and told me that his name 
was Tom Secor, and that he was a distant relative of Mrs. 
Twocoats. When he had completed his work and I arose to 
pay him, he said: made a fearful break on you. Parson.” 

^^How was that ?” 

‘^^By taking you to be a youngster, when vou were a full- 
fledged parson. I’ve been kickin’ myself for it ever since.” 

I stood looking at him in perfect amazement, not knowing 
what to say. 

^^Don’t you know me ?” he continued. ‘^Don’t you remem- 
ber overtaking me on your way from Eacketsburg, and my 
offerin’ you whisky and tellin’ you all about Sim Bates’s 
class ?” 

^^You puzzle me,’ I said, finding my tongue at last. 

^^Oh! it’s all right,” he went on. am awful glad I gave 
you a pointer. My! but you hit ’em hard. They’ve been 
layin’ ’round on the street about six deep for the last three 
days. Say, Parson,” he continued, with a smile, ^^you’re not 
half the fool you look to be.” 


70 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OE 


I was perfectly astounded. He was a man that knew 
enough to do me great harm. He could force me to di3- 
close myself — for I had determined to speak the truth, let 
consequences be what they might. 

'^^Oh! go on about your business/^ he said, at last. ‘Til 
never give you away. Fm done with that kind of business. 
Fm goin^ to begin a Christian life some day. Fll see you to- 
morrow. Fm comin^ to hear you preach.^^ 

I left him, believing the best thing I could do was to take 
him at his word, and fearlessly face future developments. 
If I bound him to secrecy he might conclude that I was afraid, 
and so, losing confidence in my manliness, tell all he knew. 

In front of the postoffice I met a number of men, and be- 
gan to shake hands with them. ^Vhen I reached my hand to 
Captain Twocoats he struck it away, saying: ^^Don^t reach 
your fist out to me unless you are prepared to defend your- 
self.^^ 

^^Why, Captain!''^ I said, ^Vhat is the trouble?’^ 

^^Trouble enough!” he roared. ^H^ll never take your hand 
again till you tell me whether you wrote that article in the 
Trumpet or ilot.” 

^^What article?” I asked. have been away for nearly 
two weeks,” and I started to pass him. He placed his hand 
upon me and gave me a push that came near causing me to 
lose my feet, as he shouted: 

^^You donT get away from here till I say so.” 

^‘Captain!” I said, looking him squarely in the eye, will 
not take such treatment from any — 


OOSBALLUrO THB KIDS OF KCDDTIUJL 


n 


^^You^ll not, eh? I have a mind to blow your brains out 
without another word. Being its you, 1^11 mash your — ^ 
and he made a dash at me; but before I could move an aria 
a fist flashed before my eyes, and the next instant he was lying 
r^n the ground. He made an effort to draw his revolver, when 
Edwin Boggs, standing over him, said: ^^Move if you dare, and 
youVe told the last lie about ^the Boggs boys!^ 

^^Here, here!^^ said Dr. Quick, forcing himself to his side. 
^^Sonnie, put that thing up. It might go up. If you put a 
hole in Cap’s hide I’ll just have to sew it up. Parson, go on 
about your business. Ho prayers are wanted here. Ha! Ha! 
Cap, your nose is blooming sure. The preacher had a friend 
you wasn’t counting on, eh? I am surprised at you. I 
thought you was too good a soldier to fight till you knew 
where your enemy was stationed. You’ll learn something yet 
if you don’t die too soon.” 

I took the doctor’s advice and left, not knowing what was 
before me. Hear my gate, in the dusk that evening, I heard 
Shortie Boggs say to Edwin as they passed: wouldn’t 

have risked my life for him. He could have fought his way 
out or taken a licking.” 

^^He’ll get a chance to do his own fighting yet,” replied 
Edwin. ^^Twocoats will never rest till he gets his hand on 
him.” 


72 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OB 


CHAPTER XI. 


LIFE A RANSOM. 

XOW FELT sure that I had won the 
friendship of Edwin Boggs. But he was 
younger than his three brothers, and so 
long as Shortie, the leader of the leaders, 
stood out against me I could only ex- 
pect ^^rongh riding.^^ The following day 
I entered the pulpit with no small 
amount of anxiety as to what the week would bring forth. 
The audience was unusually large, and near the center of the 
house I saw the barber, Tom Secor. At the close of the ser- 
mon Elder Freeman took charge of the communion service. 
He was just lifting the linen from the table when his son 
Morris, coming forward and placing his hand upon his 
father’s shoulder, said: ^Tather, be seated a moment. I 
wish to make a statement.” Every eye was turned upon the 
young man, who never before had attempted to speak in 
public. Every heart was filled with wonder and expectancy 
as he, with remarkable calmness and self-possession, said: 
^'You have all read the article in the Eacketsburg Trumpet 
this week. It not only exposed the behavior of certain men 
of this town, but it cast a shadow upon the character of an 
elder’s son. Now, there are three elders in this church, and 
each one has one or more sons. These boys cannot all be 



CORRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


73 


guilty, but they must all share in the reproach which should 
justly rest upon but one person. I know not, neither do I 
wish to know, the person who wrote that article, but I do 
think he should have given the name of the young man 
against whom he makes such a charge. I do not wish to be 
held responsible for another man^s misdoing; neither do J. 
intend that any boy or young man in this community shall 
be reproached for my sins. I am the young man to whom 
tlie writer referred. Not only am I guilty, but I stand ready 
to testify to the truthfulness of every word in that article.''^ 

The old elder^s face turned ghastly pale, and he looked for 
a moment as though he would fall to the floor. 

deeply regret,^^ continued the speaker, without taking 
Ids eye off of the audience, ^To bring this shame upon my 
Christian father and mother. They are in no manner to 
blame for my sin, though they must suffer from it. I make 
my confession more public than I have made my offense, be- 
cause I would open the eyes of parents to the awful tempta- 
tions set before their children. This is the first time I have 
ever gone astray, and, by the grace of God, it shall be the last. 
1 most sincerely beg forgiveness of my friends, my brethren 
and my Savior.^^ 

^'My most noble son,^^ said the father, as he threw his arms 
about the young man and kissed him. ^^We forgive you, for 
}^ou have this day shown a greater heroism than is ever wit- 
nessed on battlefields. It is a heroism that is only surpassed 
by that shown by our adorable Lord when He gave His life a 
ransom for ours.^^ Then, lifting the loaf before the people, 
the elder said: ^^As often as ye do eat bread and drink this 
cup, ye proclaim the Lord^s death till He come.^^ 


74 


THB BOGGS BOYS, OM 


In the depth of contrition we all sat and communed with 
our Lord as the emblems of His broken body and shed blood 
passed through the audience. I had been most prayerfully 
watching and longing for a time when I could conduct a series 
of meetings. Believing that the time appointed had come, 
before dismissing the audience I announced my intention to 
begin at once such a meeting. This announcement met with 
the hasty approval of all the members of the church. In the 
three years that I had been in Kiddville I had not neglected 
my study and preparation of special sermons to be used when 
I should reach the point when I could teach those whom I 
had sought to win. 

That evening I placed back of the pulpit a large oil paint- 
ing. on which I had expended much time and money, and for 
vhich my devoted wife and innocent baby had sacrificed many 
conveniences that they might justly have claimed at my 
hands. 

I called the painting ^^The Arch of Life.^^ It presented a 
landscape somewhat mountainous, divided into two parts by 
a stream, which arose far to the left, its course being outlined 
by the dim, distant, mountain ranges. This stream revealei 
itself in the nearer mountains, passed through a wide valley, 
then in a raging torrent swept across the foreground into an 
abyss below. This ^^Eiver of Sin,^^ as I named it, in the fore- 
ground, was bridged by a massite arch, which I called ^^The 
Arch of Life,^^ and which gave to the entire painting its name. 
This arch was composed of seven huge stones, the center one, 
being a keystone, bomid the whole structure together. These 
seven stones represented the classification of the books of the 


OORRArjJNQ THE KIDS OF KIDDVILM. 


n 

Bible. On each stone were engraved emblems showing the 
purpose and office of that particular book or class of books. 

Far to the left, above the dim and distant outline of moun- 
tains, there was a star — ^^The Star of Prophecy, which shed 
its light upon paths that led the way to ^‘The Arch of Life.*’ 
Also, on the left, could be seen lofty mountain peaks, from 
whose summits seers, catching visions of the coming events, 
foretold them to the people of their generation. In the valley 
on the left of the stream were the Jewish tabernacle and 
camp. On the keystone and in the center of the path cross- 
ing the arch was the cross. From the cross and the arch a 
path led the way to the valley on the right of the stream. 
This was the path of righteousness, which ended the glory- 
crowned mountains of life, to be seen in the extreme right 
of the painting. Above these mountains appeared the city of 
God — the New Jerusalem — coming down from God oat of the 
heavens. 

Down on the right of the ‘^Eiver of Sin’’ could be seen 
persons receiving the perishing. I had so constructed the 
drawing that there was not a single object in it that did not 
sustain some vital relation to Jesus and his mission in the 
world. My purpose was to gain an entrance through the 
eye into the minds of the most thoughtless, and to give them 
a mental vision and an intelligent understanding of the Plan 
of Salvation. 

I had not planned in vain. My audiences became so large 
that many could not get into the house. The young people 
gave the most profound attention to my discourses. Before 
and after the sermons groups of people — sitting in the pews 


76 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OB 


or standing by the painting with open Bibles — would discuss 
some newly discovered object and its meaning. 

In these little groups that lingered after the sermon might 
often be seen baby Grace, now past five years old. She was 
n favorite with the people, and an unceasing talker. Again 
and again while I was planning and studying the painting 
she had plied me with questions innumerable. Two ideas 
had become very deeply impressed upon her mind. First, 
that everything except the stream had some reference to Jesus. 
Second, that J esus especially loved the people who were trying 
to get others out of the river. 

For three weeks my meeting continued with ever-increasing 
interest; a tidal wave of Bible reading and study swept over 
the community. But as yet there had not been a single con- 
version. I now began to fear that after all my work was go- 
ing to fail. I was a young man, and the strain of the meet- 
ing was beginning to tell on my physical strength. One 
evening Dr. Quick said to me: ^Tarson, if you donT let up a 
little your wife will get a chance to marry another man.^^ 

“'^Not while I^m living,^^ I replied with a smile. 

^^But you won’t be living,” he said. ^^Haven’t you got a 
bit of common sense? At this rate you will kill yourself be- 
fore you know it. If you would take care of yourself you 
might do some good in the world — that is, if you live long 
enough.” 

I felt that back of his jesting there was a true word of 
warning that I ought to heed. That night I said to my 
father (who had come to spend a few weeks visiting me and 
to ^^see the rounding up of the stampede,” as he said): 


CORBALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVIIXE. 


77 


^‘Father, what is wrong with, this meeting? Why do not the 
people obey the gospel 

^‘Don’t yon know he asked. 

^‘Indeed I do not/^ I replied. 

^^Then I will tell yon. Yon are missing the mark hy shoot- 
ing too high. Yon are filling the people with a knowledge 
of God's work. There will he some yonng preachers come out 
of this meeting if yon manage it right. But the time has 
me when yon must lower yonr sight and strike the heart 
instead of the head. Try it awhile^ and see if I am not right.'’ 

The next morning I resolved to follow my father's advice. 
I spent the entire forenoon at my table preparing a sermon. 
About noon a heavy rain set in, w^hich continued the whole 
afternoon and the greater part of the night. The meeting 
house was not opened that evening. By 10 o'clock the next 
morning Little Enn had risen above the high water mark, 
'i'aking Grace, father and I went down to see the flood. We 
walked to the center of the iron bridge, which was lined with 
people, old and yonng. While we w^ere watching the raging 
torrent that was sweeping by Dr. Quick drove onto the bridge 
and stopped to talk. . ^AVell, Parson," he said, ^This flood was 
a blessing. It gave the people a rest. Yon are looking 
b(dter for it. It is well enough yon stopped and cooled off a 
little, for if yon had not you'd a-bnsted a flue in a thousand 
dollar mule." Then he started one of his boisterous laughs, 
but was stopped by the screams of the people. 

^^Great heavens!" he cried, ‘^Vhose child was that?" I 
turned only in time to see the form of a man plunge into the 
flood. Some one rushing to me cried, ^Tarson, Grace has 


7 « 


THS BOGOS BOTS, OS 


follen in/^ I staggered and perhaps would have fallen had 
it not been for my father supporting me. I was aroused by 
another shout from the people. Then I saw a man arise to 
the surface of the raging waters, and Grace was in his arms. 
Fighting with the flood, he placed her arm about his neck. 
Then he began to swim. The current was rapidly bearing 
him down the stream; logs, rails, stumps and tree tops were 
leaping, twisting and turning in every conceivable way. The 
doctor called for me to get into his buggy, and soon we were 
dashing down the stream to a point where we saw the rescuer 
would probably land. We reached the shore just as he was 
nearing. I leaped from the buggy and rushed into the stream 
to help him, when his feet struck the ground. Arising, he 
gave the child into my arms. I was so rejoiced that I did not 
notice to whom I was indebted for the life of my child until 
she said: ^^Jesus loves Shortie Boggs, donT He, papa?^^ 

I grasped his hand and tried to tell him how unbounded 
was my gratitude. I must have made an awful out of it, for 
he looked at me very strangely as he said: 

^^ThaFs all right. Parson. IPs nothing, iPs nothing. Mrs. 
Atwood saved Freddie^s life.^^ 

When I turned to speak to Dr. Quick I saw him driving 
over the bridge at a rate that would have put Jehu to shame. 

Great crowds of people came to meet us. Everybody was 
praising Shortie Boggs for his heroism. 

When we reached home I found Dr. Quick in the house 
talking with Mrs. Atwood. As we entered he said: “If 1 
hadnT put Dexter down to his best a lot of fools would have 
rushed in here and seared the life out of your wife.^^ 


COSBALLmO THE KIDS OF KIDDTILLB. 


T9 

I thanked him, and he left me, saying: just take ten 

dollars off my church subscription/^ 

When evening came the church was again filled with people. 
1 took as my theme, ^^Life a Eansom/^ Considered from a 
homiletic standpoint, the sermon was a failure. But 
Brother Wyatt^s sweet voice led off in the invitation hymn, 

^‘1 gave my life for thee,” 

I saw that his heart had been touched by the wooings of divine 
love. My heart gave a leap of joy as a young man came walk- 
ing down the aisle and gave me his hand. It was Shortie 
Boggs. He had learned that day what it was to give his life 
a ransom. He was quickly followed by his three brothers. 

A happy procession of people in the beautiful moonlight 
marched from the church to Little Run. The waters were 
still angry, and their loud roaring, mingling with the voices 
of the singer, gave forth a melody that will never he forgotten 
by those who heard it. Just below the bridge, near where 
he had cast his life away for another, I buried Shortie Boggs 
and his brothers with their Lord. As he came forth from 
that emblematic grave the people sang: 

^T’m not ashamed to own my Lord, 

Nor defend his cause; 

Maintain the honor of his word. 

The glory of his cross.” 

Baby Grace whispered to her mamma: 

^^Shortie loves Jesus now, donT he, mamma?” 

The meeting lasted three weeks longer. Among the sev- 
enty people that connected themselves with the church there 


80 


THE Boaas BOYS, OB 


were two score young men and boys. Joseph Boggs and wife 
being numbered with their sons^ gave a quitclaim title to the 
church lot and the burying ground. 

Having corralled the ^^Kids of Kiddville/^ I laid aside the 
garb of cowboy and entered upon my duties as pastor of the 
church. * * * 

One evening two years later as T sat in my open door and 
baby Grace was plying me with questions, I heard a man 
weeping in the cemetery. I looked across and saw an old 
man kneeling at a grave weeping pitiously. By his side his 
companion was striving to comfort him. I walked over to 
them. They were Father and Mother Summers. Their 
heads were uncovered, and the -setting sun covered them with 
a sheen of silvery glory. 

I knelt by the old man and said: ^^Does your sorrow be- 
come no less with the flight of years 

^^Ho less!^^ he said. ^Tt might be lighter if I only knew 
how he came to die.^^ 

^^Father,^^ I said, ^^some day this mystery will be solved.^^ 

And it was solved much sooner than I expected, and in a 
manner of which I had never dreamed. 


COKRALLINa THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


81 


CHAPTER XII. 


THE MYSTERY SOLVED. 



SUDDEX change in the course of the 
lives of so many young men and boys of 
Kiddville not only became an occasion of 
great rejoicings but also of great anxiety 
on the part of the older members of the 
church. ^^Better,^^ said some^ ^That the 
boys had never started right than that 
they should start and then go wrong.^^ 
Many persons prophesied that within six months ^The Boggs 
hoys^^ would be up to worse meanness than ever before. I 
made a note of all these prophets of evil, knowing that they 
would seek the fulfillment of their own prophecy. 

I recognized the fact that the duties of a pastor we^’c in 
many respects quite different from those of a cowboy. First 
it would be my duty to lead the flock to new fields and foun- 
tains; second^ I must see that another stampede did not 
occur; third, I must prevent the ravages of wild beasts and 
the spread of disease. 

I also recognized the fact that I was dealing with young 
people who were not thinking of going to heaven right away, 
but who were planning to abide in this sin-cursed world a 
number of years longer. That many of these young people 


82 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OB 


were fully fifty per cent, fnn, I could not' deny, and that a 
game of baseball or a fishing expedition would be more likely 
to catch them than would a prayer meeting, I could not call 
in question. I also knew that joining Christ’s Kingdom was 
not getting up a baseball club or a fishing party. I felt, how- 
ever, that Christ wished these young people to live as young 
people, not as old ones. I believe that Christ wished the boys 
to be Christians as boys, and not as grandfathers. I could 
see no reason why a boy that had come into Christ’s Kingdom 
should cease to live a boy’s life. 

These boys and young men were very happy in their new 
life. This happiness I knew was the result of their choosing 
the right, and striving to do the straight thing. Knowing 
tliat boys, like men, would drift from the church as soon as 
they ceased to be happy in it, I set about doing those things 
that would keep them happy. 

Knowing that a boy must be active and not passive in the 
great work of character building, I kept close counsel with 
the senior members of the church, and we sought to have 
something for each one to do. We never lost sight of the 
entertaining. Even Deacon Bentley found that my sugges- 
tion concerning marble playing could be put to good use. 

Dr. Quick said that Christ’s Kingdom was a kingdom of 
brothers, and he saluted every boy and young man whom he 
met as a brother. He soon had a class of young men meeting 
in his office on Wednesday evening. He taught them such 
things as he felt that they should know in order to live pure 
and healthy lives, and to make themselves useful and helpful 
to others. These classes were often attended by fathers, who 


CORRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


83 


were loud in their praises of the doctor and his work. Many 
of these yonng men took a deep interest in the study of medi- 
cme, and when I asked the doctor if he was not afraid they 
V ould become physicians and starve him out, he replied: 

‘^^hTot a. bit of it. The business of ^The Quack" is to get a 
man down and then keep him down, as long as he has any 
money; but the business of the Christian physician is to keep 
a man up while he is up. If a young man is going to live a 
liappy Christian life, he must learn how to keep well. He 
iriust strengthen the life line, not cut it."" 

Mrs. Atwood organized a number of young ladies and 
mothers into a class called ‘^The Keepers of Home."" This 
class met every Saturday afternoon. Mrs. Atwood said she 
could never see why Christian women should not be the 
cleanest and every way the best housekeepers in the world. 
She believed a well-kept home, a home kept in the interest of 
those who ought to live in it, would be a great power in mak- 
ing the boys and young men noble. Hence, she taught kind- 
ness and cheerfulness in the home life. Young wives were 
taught to love their husbands, and to recognize their love of 
the beautiful. The effects of these lessons were commented 
on by husbands and brothers, who, returning home from labor 
found the old wash dress thrown aside, and the wife, mother 
or sister, as the case might be, neatly attired in a clean dress, 
and clothed in her right mind. As a consequence, husbands 
and brothers, after evening work, took time ^To clean up a 
little,"" as they called it; this, in turn, led to reading and 
happy conversation. 

Doctor Quick frequently delivered lectures to this class, on 


84 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OR 


caring for the sick^ and thus taught these sisters and mothers 
to look upon good health as an essential to Christian living. 
They were all very happy in their work, and soon became use- 
lul, not only in hours of health, hut in times of sickness. 

It may appear strange to some, but we did ilot have a 
young people^s prayer meeting. So long as the old people 
were friends and companions of the young we saw no reason 
why the young would not he as prayerful in the presence as 
well as in the absence of their seniors. Our purpose was to 
unite young and old in the service of Christ. It never oc- 
curred to us that there would be a children’s department or 
young people’s quarters in heaven. Paul and Timothy were 
bosom friends, yet when they first met one was a man of years 
— bent under the care of the churches and the infirmity of his 
body; while the other was a bright boy of about seventeen 
years, full of light and happiness. This spirit of Paul’s com- 
panionship for the young soon found its way to the hearts of 
Kiddville’s fathers and mothers. 

Father Summers led us all in showing friendship for the 
boys and young men. We sat at his feet and learned of him. 
He and his good companion threw their hearts and their home 
open to the young boys. He loved them, and did not hesitate 
to tell them so. To have seen this bereaved father and mother 
in company with these young people one would never have 
known that they carried a sorrow so great that ofttimes when 
alone they were prostrated under it. Every Lord’s day morn- 
ing he was seen standing at the door of the church giving a 
most cheerful welcome to all who entered. 

For five years more I continued my duties as pastor of the 


CORRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


85 


Kiddville Church; and “^^The Crown of my rejoicing’^ was the 
presence of young men and hoys at all the church services. 
One afternoon, during my fifth year at Kiddville, I was sitting 
on Doctor QuickCs porch talking with him about a number 
of young men who were to leave our community for the pur- 
pose of attending college. Suddenly a young man came riding 
up to the gate and cried out: 

^^Doctor, a steam engine has exploded on Lee Burton^s 
farm, and Sim Bates is badly hurt. They want you to come 
at once, and to bring the parson with you.^^ 

^^Well!*^ exclaimed the doctor, ‘^Te must think he is going 
to die if he wants the parson.^^ 

We w^ere soon in the buggy, and Dexter went dashing 
through the town at breakneck speed. It was the first ride 
of the kind I had ever taken with Doctor Quick. I thought 
sc'metimes I would be thrown out against the fence. On we 
went, heedless of all obstructions. The farther we went the 
faster w^e appeared to go. The doctor never spoke a word ail 
through the ride. His face, as I could get a glance at it, was 
a study. 

When we reached Lee Burton’s farm there w^as great ex- 
citement. The doctor was as cool as if going to his morning 
meal. I accompanied him into a room where lay Sim Bates, 
his face as pale as death. As soon as he saw me he began to 
curse me, and ordered me out of the room. I turned aside 
without a word. 

The doctor made a careful examination of the injured man, 
and then said: 

^^Well, Sim, what do you want me to do for you?” 


86 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OS 


''I want you to pull me through, of course/' 

^'Sorry, Sim, but I can do you no good. You have taught 
your last Sunday-school class and downed your last glass of 
grog. If you are going to do any repenting you had better 
be at it." 

^^I'm not going to die, am I?" asked Sim, his whole frame 
quaking at the thought. 

‘^^That's what you are going to do. And you are not going 
to be long about it." 

For a moment he lay in silence, then turning to the doctor 
he said: 

"^^Doc, get everybody out of the room and bring in the 
parson." 

The room was cleared, and as I entered the door was closed 
after me. A more pitiable picture I never saw. I advanced 
and, gently placing my hand on his, said, am very sorry for 
you. What do you want me to do for you?" 

^^Yothing!" he replied. ^Tarson, you're too much for me. 
I can't hold out against you any longer. You broke up my 
class. I thought I'd get the better of you yet, but I can't now. 
You ought to know it, so I'll tell you. I'm to blame for 
George Summer's death!" 

I drew back from the dying man and faced him in silence. 
He was so overcome with his own confession that for a mo- 
ment he was silent. Then he said: 

^‘^George was a good boy and I had been trying to get hold 
of him. He kept trying to keep boys in the Sunday-school, 
and had followed some fellows out into Boggs's woods 
pasture. We caught and tied him, and took him up to the 


CORRALLING THE KIDS OF KIDDVILLE. 


87 


place where the class met; hut he would not drink. When 
we saw the Boggs's calves we hitched them up to a sled, and 
was just having some fun hauling George around. The calves 
got scared at some dogs and run away. We tried to stop them, 
but could not. You know the rest." 

Then he became silent, and the doctor said, ^^Sim, you have 
not told it all. YTio was with you? Who was the other boy?" 

He was growing very weak, and turning his face to the 
doctor said: ^‘We took a solemn oath never to tell on each 
other." 

^^But you are dying," said the doctor. ^^You should tell it 
all." 

^^Yo," he said, ^Tll never tell on the others." 

^‘^Then," said the physician, ‘^^you should repent. Don't 
die keeping this secret." 

^^There's George now!" said Sim, a look of horror coming 
into his face. ^^That day!— Don't. George, don't come near. 
Leave me! — Go off! — Go off! George Summers, leave me, 
I say!" 

He made an effort to rise, then his head fell back upon the 
pillow and he died as he lived — a polluter of boys. 

The community was Wild with talk for weeks; then, as be- 
fore, it quieted down, and the mystery was not wholly solved. 
Sim Bates and his class were dead, as far as their influence 
over Kiddville boys was concerned. 

* * Hi * 

That was a quarter of a centu^’y ago. The boys and girls 
cf that day are active men and women now, each one striving 


may 18 1899 


THE BOGGS BOYS, OB 


to be faithful citizens of Christas Kingdom. Lon Secor and 
the elder^s son are active members in one of the leading 
churches in a capitol city. Shortie Boggs is a missionary in 
India. Edwin lives where Doctor Quick lived, the doctor 
having long ago gone to his reward. I am no longer pastor of 
the Kiddville Church, but Freddie Boggs lives in the par- 
sonage, and baby Grace stands where the ^Talm Tree’^ stood. 



LBAg’l2 





THE BOYS 

reENDfj 

LMffi 

N?!- ' 


•***iK> 


cAch 






CS^J 





( 







ly’s Exerciser 


Health, Strength, Form and Beauty 


IT IS A COMPLETE HOME GYMNASIUM. 

IT REQUIRES NO FLOOR SPACE WHEN NOT IN USE. 

IT IS ESPECIALLY ADAPTED TO THE USE OP LADIES. 

Style O, with Wood Pulleys ««- = -- $2.00 

Complete in box with instruction book, foot at- 
tachment, door hinge attachments, and package 
of hooks.^ Choice of Cables — heavy, medium, 
light or cfiild’s. Shipping weight, 20 ounces. 


Style 1, fitted with Noiseless Cone»Bearing 
Adjustable Pulleys, Finely enameled » « « - $3.00 

Complete in box with instruction book, one chart 
each for men and ladies, foot attachment, door 
hinge atta'chments, and package of hooks. Choice 
of Cables — medium, light or child’s. Shipping 
weight, 23 ounces. 

Address 


BOYS’ FRIEND, Irvington, Ind. 



HELLO. 


“My papa wants THE BOYS’ FRIEND. He says 
it is the best paper published for men and boys.” 


Are V ou a Rriend of Boys? 

... IF SO SUBSCRIBE FOR . . . 

THE BOYS’ FRIEND 

Is a 16 page independent monthly, devoted to the Pleasures, 
Happiness and character ruildixg of boys. It seeks to splve 
“The Boy Problem'’ by establishing the closest possible com- 
panionable friendship between inexperienced boys and noble 
men. 

THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP. 

Mrs. Browning once said to Charles Kingsley, “Tell me the 
secret of your life that I may make my life grand.” Mr. Kings- 
ley studied a moment and replied, “/ Had a Friend . Is not 
this the secret of every life, whether it be grand or no? 

“Thou art noble, yet, I see 
Thy honorable metal may be wrought 
From what it is disposed. Therefore ’tis meet 
That noble minds keep ever with their likes; 

For who so firm that cannot be seduced ?“— Shakespeare. 

The Boys' Friend is a true friend of boys and will help you 
to study the nature and needs of boys and bring your life in 
''vital touch'* with theirs. Fifty Cents a Year. Send for sam- 
ples. 

Address. j^E BOYS’ FRIEND, 


Irvington, Ind, 






^ . 




• • • 7 


1 




m?:- 



r . 


JO 


.» - Y 



.A ' 


:4'’ V/ 








^ Sa"^ 


• V ■ •:•• • # 

-X. . •, ■;•.•*; 



I * -11 




'A^ 


-> 



.J|*v 


vr 




'’■r ' ' 

» J J <• 7 




- . xr. 




.j 



/ ■. 


*. I 


A 


-T 1 




\ > 


t ♦ • » — 

« f i . 

- ■ ■ •' •■■ ■ A.‘- ■''- 

j - ' t-...-»Y -r, • •■ 











•"< k 


iv,' ■ 7 ’‘ -'• ■ 


J 




'i 


iri- 


J'Cl. 


V • . 




:> '.’ 


■ k 




\ 


> f 


‘.'4' 


■r‘/:v^;. , 

.* • fi M ' 

■*•' ^J' ^ 

i "T • ' 

• / ' • • * , ' 


* > 




;r» 




c; . t 

» « f ^ 


•: 


**'*0 

► .'i ^ 


% 


f -r’ ,< 


- ( 






«J! 


• # 


'4- i 


V 


r . «• 





* ^ 


rx • 


. • fc' *!« 

y** 


V 


Viv ' h 9 

:U:\' 





v;.- 


k ' 

'['•’d 'V ’ • * ' 


V ‘ i*- •‘^/ll '* '-n' * 


itsLip. 

4 '• 

A 

* ^ 

'v.'’v. ; 

-4. 

$ 

. • 

> , 

-.ik. 


' •« 

4* 


\ 


• -W -W*^ *J»* t ^ •« 

■ i ' V ' ■■■'i.-- ■ 

i'*' t f '■ ';■•■' •>'' ^ .' ' 

^1 ^ ^ • ^ . . V • •- ► 



• V • 


• % 



J. i*ji 

■'•■V. ir\ 


v» 


9i 


• t. 


I t 



• . ? 


•v 


^ ‘ ' I ,<l^ 


. • • ••. - • 5 

'■ i 


^ V ' » 


■iiS- 



. . > 


•*-. i» 


> ,•' 


*S ^ y’. 




• ^ Ki". 



V : Y 


*•. .* : 


Vt- 


ifT*! 




; ', \ 




■ -I 


PT • • 


^ A ' 


.X* .» /*'•■•*', • - i. 'i - -i 

'A V'-' f ii^ r * i ^ 









. ■ •v * * 4 , * ^ • 


¥ 

\ 




\ 


/> 


t 


J 


« 






I 


I . 


/ 







t 



t 


4 


c 


% 



« 




*» 


# 


% 

I • • 


% 




i 




4 





4 


4 





‘ i ' 


»l 


o 





I 


0 


^ 


« 



<. 




i« 




ft 


✓ 


> 






4 


4 


* 

V 


i 


I ’ %• 
' « 


4 


> 


* 4 •« 


/ 


/ 

^^• ■' 





V 


♦ 


t 


a 



.y 


« u '' 


9 


4trr 





